Janet Joan O'Leary

O'LEARY, Janet Joan
Of Portage Janet passed away peacefully Wednesday afternoon, January 11, 2012 with her loving husband and children beside her. She was born Janet Joan Wetters on March 13, 1936 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of the late Roy and Irene Snyder Wetters. On August 4, 1958, she was united in marriage to John W. O'Leary in Louisville, KY. Surviving are her husband of 53 years, John; their five children, Judy Charles Meinecke of West Milton, OH, Jack Joanne O'Leary of Tecumseh, Jill Fritz Lambright of Edwardsburg, James Gwen O'Leary of Union, KY, and Joann Richard Marotzke of Saginaw; nine grandchildren, Charles Sarah Meinecke, Julianne Drew Manning, Elizabeth Meinecke, Allison O'Leary, Theresa O'Leary, Matthew O'Leary, Maxwell O'Leary, Zechariah Marotzke, and Faith Marotzke; four brothers, Harry Carol Wetters of Portage, Wes Wetters of Kalamazoo, Donal Wetters of Bay City, William Judith Wetters of Belmont. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and whose lives she touched. She grew up in Kalamazoo, Augusta, and Bay City where she graduated from T.L. Handy High School in 1954. She attended Bay City Junior College and worked various jobs including a retail clerk, bank teller, and later as a realtor. She also worked as a playground supervisor, volunteered for PTA and as a 4-H leader. She was also active for many years working with children and serving at the Bay City First Church of the Nazarene. When she and John later "retired" to Kalamazoo they volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels, and assist with cancer patient transport. She also worked as a preschool aide in Otsego Public Schools. She reached out generously to Christian charities and had a genuine concern and desire to help those in need. Funeral services for Janet will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Avenue. Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Friday and from 10:00 AM until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Private family interment will be on Monday at Ft. Custer National Cemetery, Augusta. Memorial contributions may be directed to The Salvation Army or Borgess Visiting Nurse and Hospice.