Janet Roxanne Meyers

Although she will be missed on Earth, Jan entered Heaven on July 7, 2024 following a prolonged fight with a leukemia-like blood disease. Until the very end of her life, Jan was one of the most selfless people around, earning her the nickname “Saint Jan'' amongst her family. Her loved ones suspect that even when she was in hospice care, she was giving others the chance to enter Heaven before her.

She was born to William Carlyle and Lucille (Putnam) Walton in Freeport, IL on June 21, 1942. After completing her studies at Freeport High School (Home of the Pretzels!), she attended college at Northern Illinois University, where she studied to be a Spanish teacher. At the end of her first semester, she met her husband Philip while studying for final exams in the Newman Center on campus. They started dating shortly afterwards, and were married four years later on August 8,1964 in Freeport, IL. She passed away one month and one day shy of their 60th anniversary.

Jan and Phil lived together in Chicagoland after getting married. He worked as a magazine editor, writer for a major oil company and public relations executive. Jan was a stay at home mother. They welcomed their daughters Mary Beth in 1966 and Amy in 1968, and raised them in Palatine, IL. Twelve years later, their son Jason was born, completing their family unit.

When her kids were older, Jan began working as a school bus driver, driving for District 211 in Palatine, and later for Rockford and Durand school districts. Jan was proud to be a professional driver, and touched the lives of countless students in her twenty years of driving.

When she wasn’t driving the bus or caring for her children, grandchildren, or father, Jan had numerous hobbies and interests, including knitting, sewing, painting, interior design, antiques, gardening, and travel. She especially loved nature, and some of her favorite trips were to a ranch in Wyoming, and a canoe expedition along the Missouri River.

If you ask nearly anyone who knew Jan what they remember most about her, they will tell you about her hospitality. She was a talented cook and baker, and loved trying out new recipes on her family and friends. Even though she loved to try new recipes, she also gladly obliged in making the family favorites when requested. She must have made the infamous “The Dessert”, a chocolate-peanut butter-rice-crispy-brownie treat, at least 20 times, if not more!

Jan is survived by her husband Philip, children Amy (Craig) Johnson and Jason (Julie), brother Dennis Walton, and her ten grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Carlyle and Lucille, daughter Mary Beth, and grandchildren Joseph and Nicholas.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 9:30 A.M. at St. Bernadette Church (2400 Bell Ave, Rockford, IL 61103), followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 A.M. All are invited to attend a luncheon following the funeral Mass, located at Wesley Willows Town Center (4142 Johns Farm Rd, Rockford, IL 61101). The burial will be on Wednesday, July 17 at 10:30 A.M. and will depart from Fitzgerald Funeral Home (3910 N Rockton Ave, Rockford, IL 61103).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in honor of Janet Meyers to The Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford