Janice Christensen

A woman who was the heartbeat of wherever she was, Janice Christensen was dearly loved by all who knew her. She was fun loving with an adventurous spirit and blessed with the extraordinary gift of hospitality. With an unwavering faith as her constant companion, Janice counted every path in her life as part of God’s perfect plan for her, taking not even one moment for granted along the way. Being a wife, mother, and grandmother seemed to be roles that were tailor made just for her as she viewed nurturing her family to be both her highest calling and her greatest blessing. Although Jan will be deeply missed, her friends and family find comfort in knowing that she has been reunited with the love of her life in their eternal home.

Life during the Roaring Twenties was filled with the peak of Broadway, films that became available in both color and sound, and prosperity all across our great land. It was during this transformational time that a young couple was blessed with a healthy baby girl on March 26, 1927. Baby Janice was one of five children born to her parents, Albert and Myrtle Rognsvoog, and was raised in the family home alongside her sisters, Jane and Mary Ann, and her brothers, Albert and Tom.

As the Great Depression blanketed our nation throughout the thirties, the Rognsvoog family was not immune from the times of extreme hardship. Janice’s parents were frugal, and did whatever they could to weather the storm. Her father became a successful business man while her mother was a devoted housewife.

The afternoon after graduating from high school Janice and a friend walked to Webster Electric Company to apply for jobs. Janice was hired immediately and worked there for some time. A friend from work later invited her to join her on a trip to Milwaukee to look at stenography classes at the Lasalle Business Institute. Jan agreed and signed a two year contract that very day. After graduating, she and another stenographer served both Racine and Kenosha counties in the days before a court reporter was appointed to every court room.

Daily life was forever changed for Janice when she met the love of her life. His name was Gordon “Corky” J. Christensen, and they met at Demets Bar. After dating for a time Janice and Corky were married on August 12, 1950, at her lifelong church, Trinity United Methodist Church.

Together Janice and Corky welcomed three daughters into their hearts and home: Nancy, JoAnne, and Laurie. As a mother she had no equal, and caring for her husband and children was always her main priority. As a family they looked forward to summers at Whitefish Lake in Northern Wisconsin with the gang where they all watched the Moon Landing in the resort bar with friends. There were also cocktail hours on the beach, plenty of water skiing and fishing, and precious friendships that meant the world to Janice. A bit later they began spending time at their cottage on Miller Lake as a family along with friends as well. Jan cooked up the pan fish for the last breakfast in camp, making sure that the biggest fish caught would be on the plate of the grandchild who caught it. Through their experiences at the lake her grandchildren learned to appreciate the love of family.

Janice was a pioneer for women in the workforce in her day. In 1962 she was appointed to be an official court reporter for the State of Wisconsin in Racine County. Janice’s work there frequently required long and hard hours as she waited for a verdict to come in. Not surprisingly, Jan was well respected by all who worked in Racine's judicial community. She retired in the late eighties and then began a more relaxed and busy life with Corky.

As their children got older Jan and Corky took their first real vacation to Acapulco, Mexico. Their retirement years allowed them more time to travel to destinations like Europe and a very special trip to Norway for a Rognsvoog family reunion in Bergen. While there Janice was able to visit her fathers's childhood home, which was a highlight of her life. Her Norwegian heritage was always very important to her, and she recently became a member of The Sons of Norway.

After renting a condo in Fort Meyers, Florida, for a couple of years, Janice and Corky fell in love with the warmer climate during the winters so they purchased their own condo. Jan took up golfing there, and she loved going out with the “out to lunch bunch,” a group of women who became close friends. She and Corky enjoyed day trips to Sanibel and Captiva Islands for a day of shopping and lunch at the Mucky Duck.

There were numerous things that enriched Jan’s life through the years. She loved her church where she served as the church "recorder" during their meetings for over 30 years. Since Corky loved tennis, Janice learned to play at the North Shore Club where they began playing doubles and formed lasting friendships. Jan was also on a women's golf league at Ives Grove and Shoops up until this year. She helped arrange their golf banquets and treasured the friendships she had there. Jan continually had a full social calendar, loved going out to lunch with friends, and excelled at shopping. She was a fantastic cook and loved entertaining until her very last days, which was a gift she passed on to her girls.

With a personal faith to guide her steps, Janice Christensen was a blessing in the lives of those too numerous to count. She cherished her family and treasured her many friendships, teaching us that it is through the love we give that we are richly blessed. Jan carried herself with grace and humility while nurturing a curiosity of all things. She was a gift to her community and someone who was respected by all who knew her. Jan was so thankful that through her husband’s acceptance of Christ just a couple of years ago, they would be able to spend eternity loving each other as deeply as they did on this side of heaven. She will be forever missed.

Janice P. Christensen died on Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Janice’s family includes her daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy (Joe) Borzynski, JoAnne (Marc) Elsmo, Laurie (Rick) Hennig; five grandchildren, Stefanie (Yoav) Meiri, Michael (Shay) Borzynski, Betsy Elsmo (Benjamin Thomas), David Elsmo, Richie Hennig; five great-grandchildren, Julia, Claire, Jack, Joe, and Jordan; brothers and sister, Albert (Alice) Rognsvoog, Tom (Karen) Rognsvoog, Mary Ann (James) Furrie; brothers-in-law, Myron “Mike” Christensen and Peter Beck; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband Janice was preceded in death by her sister, Jane Beck. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Tuesday at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 12:00 p.m. Memorials to the Trinity United Methodist Church have been suggested by the family. Arrangements provided by MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME, 803 MAIN ST. RACINE, WI 53403, (262) 634-7888. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory.