Janice Alfreda (Karssen) Vander Poel was born on May 5, 1939, to William Karssen and Jeanetta Karssen (Eggink). Janice was born in Leeds township in Murray County, Minnesota.
Jann grew up with five siblings on a farm outside of Chandler, Minnesota. She graduated as valedictorian from Chandler High School in Chandler. She later graduated from Pipestone Vocational School in the medical records field in the 1990s.
Jann and Kenneth Vander Poel were married August 12, 1957, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They had seven children together and raised their family in Luverne, Minnesota.
Janice had a strong belief in God, loved going to church and being with friends. She enjoyed loud music, especially the opera, reading books, gardening, and spending time with her family. Janice loved to reminisce about memories.
Janice passed away at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota, on July 14, 2023, at the age of 84 years.
She is survived by her seven children: April (Marv) Hubbling, Melanie (Bernard) Carmen, Noreen (Randy) Hawes, Daniel (Paula) Vander Poel, Ferlin (Kimberly) Vander Poel, Nina (Todd) Halls, and Ben (Mindy) Vander Poel; 19 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her three brothers and one sister: Derald (Joann) Karssen, William Karssen, Alden “Patch” (Marlene) Karssen, and Gaylene (James) Chapman.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Jeanetta Karssen, and one brother, Roland Karssen.