Janice Darlene Neumann

Please click on the link to watch Jan Neumann Funeral Service. https://youtu.be/La1YkOXHi3c Janice “Jan” D. Neumann, 88, went to live with her Heavenly Father in that house not made with hands, in a room prepared just for her, on May 9, 2023, after fighting courageous battles with many debilitating illnesses. She was born on July 21, 1934, to Chester and Beulah (Lovejoy) Christenson in La Crosse, WI. Jan had a close and very loving relationship with her mother who taught her how to live a life of self-worth and optimism about life’s possibilities. She learned those lessons well. Jan attended elementary school in Onalaska and junior high school in La Crosse, and it was while attending Logan Senior High school where she met her future husband, Rich Neumann, in the percussion section of the Logan High School band. Upon graduation, Jan became the dental assistant to Dr. Bartelt where she remained employed until Rich returned from serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Rich and Jan were married on June 19, 1954, and they became the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl, Laurie Lynn, on May 27 1955. Rich continued his interrupted college education at La Crosse State, and Jan continued her employment at the dental office of Dr. Bartelt until his graduation in June, 1956 with a BS degree in Secondary Education. Rich obtained his teaching license and began his teaching career in the Richland Center High School in September of that year. Now residing in Richland Center, Jan became employed as secretary of the Nursing Department of the Richland Center Hospital, a position she held until her retirement 30 years later. While at the hospital, she made many loving and lasting friendships. In later years when visiting the hospital/clinic for appointments and short stays, she said that she was comforted, and felt safe because of the many friends who greeted her on those visits. When Jan and Rich arrived in Richland Center, they made a commitment to become involved with the community, and they did. Jan was known as a “people person” because of her many associations with and working with citizens of the community in several organizations. She served as Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, as Guardian of Job’s Daughters Bethel #38, as a member of the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers with distinction, and loved serving as a volunteer on the Board of Directors of Passages, an organization devoted to helping women suffering from domestic violence, sexual and child abuse. Jan also served as Richland County Coordinator of Project Self-Help and Awareness for many years, an organization that worked with the black people of Holly Springs, Marshall County in Mississippi. Jan loved working with PSA and said it was especially enjoyable to make arrangements for visits between Marshall County, our Sister County, and the citizens of Richland County. She said that it was a special joy to make housing arrangements in Richland County for visiting black children during the summer, and to plan visits to Marshall County for people from the Richland Center area. Jan would often travel to Marshall County to volunteer her services at voter registration and as a poll watcher during elections. She also enjoyed traveling to Marshall County many times to participate in protest marches with her very good friends, Romelle Moore, the first black woman in that county to dare to register to vote, and Carrie Williams, another Marshall County activist. In order to make her visits to Holly Springs as comfortable for her as they could, they invited her, and later Rich and Laurie, to stay in their family homes. Until her passing, Jan continued to communicate with some of her many friends still living in Marshall County. 1963 was the summer that Rich received an NSF scholarship – National Science Foundation – to spend 10 weeks studying the geology of the Rocky Mountains at the geology camp of the University of Oklahoma in Canon City, Colorado. The family lived in their 15-foot travel trailer in a nearby trailer court which Jan described as “10 weeks of real togetherness.” The following summer Rich received a second NSF scholarship, this time for 10 weeks in Petersburg, VA, to study the geology of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Virginia State College, an all-black campus. Jan said that in addition to what we learned in Marshall County, MS we continued to learn more about the social problems of our country in Petersburg. We learned so much more that summer at Virginia State, especially our daughter, Laurie, who was nine years old at the time. Again, it was 10-weeks of travel trailer living, but it was so very well worth it. The first Civil Rights Bill was signed that summer. To what was learned by their work with PSA and working with the black people of Holly Springs, MS, much more was added to their education by their associations with the black people of Virginia State College. It’s a long story about how Jan became connected to Taliesin East, home of world-famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, in Spring Green … but, she did. As a result of that, Jan was able to volunteer her services as a tour guide at his Hillside School, his home on the Hill, and walking tours of the grounds, a job she enjoyed very much. She said that it was a joy of her life to be able to work at Taliesin, which she did for many years. She was especially thrilled when she and Rich traveled to Arizona to visit Taliesin West. In later years, she devoted all of her time at Taliesin serving as house guard during the tours, and to her this was a very magical place. On several occasions they were honored to be invited by the Taliesin Foundation to attend the “black coat and tie” affairs held at Taliesin. It was great to mingle with members of the FLLW Foundation, distinguished guests from Madison and places near and far. We made many friends. Jan said that one of her greatest accomplishments was serving as Vice President and on the Board of Directors of GRACE, Greater Richland Area Cancer Elimination project. For 7 years she worked with people from ACS, American Cancer Society, and a committee of local people to organize and conduct the ACS Relay for Life. She didn’t know it, but, like her, many on the committee were thinking “Why can’t we do this on our own and keep the money we raise right here in our own area to help cancer patients instead of sending it away.” So, in 2004, she and the committee broke away from ACS and developed their own cancer program … GRACE … and have been helping cancer patients right here at home ever since and have never looked back. Jan said that it was such a privilege to work with our local people to raise money for this effort. She went on to say that it is a miracle how the people of our area and beyond have supported GRACE by raising millions of dollars to fight cancer. Because of her work with people for many years, Jan was recognized for her efforts by being awarded the Making a Difference Civic Leadership Award, and a Certificate of Appreciation for 15 years of dedication and support of the Greater Richland Area Cancer Elimination and the Walk With GRACE. She was very proud to have been given those awards and that they will hold a warm place in her heart forever. Jan often said it was a great joy to do things with her family, too. She loved to go camping in the family tent, but was very grateful to “graduate” to our 15-foot travel trailer. Her favorite places to camp in Wisconsin were the beautiful and awesome campsites in Door County, and the inviting campsites at Devil’s Lake among the beautiful rocks and hills surrounding the Lake. The Black Hills of South Dakota was her favorite distant camping area, especially the beautiful Sheridan Lake with all of its beautiful Ponderoza pine trees providing shade and cool breezes. Jan enjoyed traveling as she and Rich visited Beijing, China, Vientiane, Laos, and visiting friends in Dubna, Russia. Jan also loved and adored her “furry forever friends,” Pierre, Chammy, Muffy and Molly. They loved and adored her as well. She said that she will meet them again at the Rainbow Bridge. Jan is survived by her husband of 67 years, Rich, their daughter, Laurie, and 3 awesome grandchildren, Matt (Christina), Jeremy (Jaci) and Melissa (Ryan). She loved and adored 7 super great grandchildren, Caitlyn, Caleb and Lucy, Ava, Andrs, and Soren, and Evelyn and Archer. Laurie’s husband, Roger, passed away on Feb. 25, 2019. She is also survived by her brother, Gary (Sue) Christenson, their son Rick (Kari), nieces Alli and Paige, and other nieces and nephews, cousins, and many, many friends. Other family members are her step-brothers Richard (Joan) Doolittle and Mark (Judy) Doolittle. Also a special “granddaughter” Maria Wilson. Other survivors include Jan’s extended family of Bouapha Vongphakdy, her daughter, Lucy (Tyson) Burkhamer, and their children Zoey, Fiona, and Sabastian, and her son, Contong, and his children Katana and Kaleb. Members of another extended family include Bill “Poke” (Kathy) Walton and their children Ritchey, Stephen, and Sydney of Atlanta, GA. Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Beulah, and son-in-law, Roger. Funeral service will be held on Monday, May 15, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Clary Memorial Funeral Home in Richland Center, WI. A graveside service will be held on Monday after the funeral at 2:30 PM at Onalaska Cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday, May 14, 2023, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and, also on Monday from 9:30 AM until the time of services. Memorials can be made to Walk With GRACE or Passages. www.clarymemorialfuneralhome.com https://youtu.be/La1YkOXHi3c

Janice Darlene Neumann

July 21, 1934 - May 9, 2023