Janet C. Poulsen

Janet C. Poulsen, age 75, left this world to make music with the angels on Thursday morning, August 1, 2013. Janet was born in Racine, May 14, 1938, daughter of the late Carl “Ted” and Ruth L. (Nee: Hostetter) Blomquist.

On August 20, 1960 at Plymouth Congregational Church she was united in marriage to Fred M. Poulsen. Janet began her first career as an elementary school teacher at Jerstad School at Racine Unified District and later at St. Sebastian School in Sturtevant. After staying home and raising her children, she went back to school and earned her CPA. She worked for SCJ Johnson Wax for 20 years. She was a member of the Junior League of Racine, PEO, and participated in countless community services.

Janet had a countless number of gifts and talents. Some of her favorite activities include: gardening, shopping, baking for family and friends, sewing, walking, traveling to Door County with her family every year, and knitting.

Music was her passion. Janet played clarinet in high school, for the Elks Band and in the UW-Madison Marching band where she performed in the Rose Bowl of 1960. She lovingly taught piano lessons in her home for many years. She began her career as an organist at Bethania Lutheran Church, then served faithfully for 40 years at Plymouth Congregational Church where she grew up. She was an accomplished organist and pianist and accompanied a countless number of weddings, funerals, and community functions throughout her tenure. She was a student of the Bible and served her church joyfully as the treasurer, Head of Deacons and any other area asked of her.

Janet’s greatest joys and love were her husband, children, and grandchildren. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who sacrificed her own needs for her beloved family. Janet was loved tenderly, adored immensely, and cherishied deeply by her husband Fred. She was full of wisdom and grace. Janet was deeply committed and involved in her children’s lives. She treasured the time she spent with her children and grandchildren and made them all feel special and loved. Her smile would light up the room when her grandchildren walked in. Janet had a group of close friends that she cherished and loved dearly, who will miss her compassion, humor, creativity and kindness. She was a dependable friend who loved to laugh and cared deeply for anyone going through a difficult time. Janet was adored by her nieces and nephew and by her genuine caring for her brothers and extended family. She was unselfish and dropped everything to help her children, family and friends.

Survivors include her husband of fifty-two years, Fred; her children, Debbie (Mike) Braun, Laura (Scott) Stevens, Carol (Dave) Schenker, David (Teresa) Poulsen; her grandchildren, Michael Jr. (SueAnn) Braun, and Becky Braun, Matthew, Niki, and Andrew Stevens, Alyssa, Cassie, and Nolan Schenker, Taylor, Katie, Ryley, and Tatum Poulsen; her great-grandchildren, Joey and Sarah Braun; brothers, Jim (Carol) Blomquist, John (Sharon) Blomquist; sisters-in-law, Elisa Poulsen, Sue Poulsen; nieces and nephew, Paige, Jodie, Wendy, Theresa, Becky, and Michael; other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Ann and her nephew, Scott.

Funeral services will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1143 College Ave, on Monday August 5, 2013, 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family on Sunday at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Monday at the church from

10:30 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Pediatric Cancer Research, c/o Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin or to the Alzheimer’s Association have been suggested.

We would like to thank mom’s special caregivers Terri and Jeanette. Our heartfelt thanks to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home and Alliance Hospice for their loving and spiritual care for Janet and her family.

Janet loved without boundaries and had a servant’s heart. She always put other’s first in her words and deeds. She lived out her life steadfast in her faith: Jesus is her Lord and Savior. “I am finally home.”