Janet Francis Richardson Ross, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 24,
2025, at the incredible age of 101. She was a treasured Mother, Grandmother, Great
Grandmother, Artist, Musician, Storyteller, Square Dancer, JMKAC Docent, Theater and
Opera Patron, Movie Buff, Cyclist, Sunday School Teacher, Meals and Wheels Driver,
Leader, Volunteer, Protestor, Peace Maker, and Friend.
Janet was born on January 10, 1924, in Evanston, Illinois to the late Edith Richardson
Webster and Hadwin Houghton Richardson. She grew up in Evanston and attended H.C.
Miller Elementary and Roycemore Schools. She filled her days with reading and drawing.
As a young adult, she attended the Art Institute of Chicago. She studied there until World
War ll changed her plans. In 1947 like many young women, she paused this path and
married her first husband, Ralph Church. They had three wonderful children – Debbie,
Tim, and Sara.
In 1955 she met and married the love of her life, Carl Ross. She and her children moved
to his hometown of Sheboygan and soon after two more wonderful children were added
to the family – Carla and Andy.
Janet provided a lovely home for her family that was filled with love, art, music, and
books. All the children were encouraged to take piano lessons and later, other
instruments as well. It was a family tradition to find new sheet music in the Christmas
stockings each year! Janet taught herself to play the recorder and delighted in
performing with her musician friends every month of every year. Music was an absolute
inspiration to her, and it restored her spirit every day.
Her interest in the Arts never waned and she took this study seriously. Each Wednesday,
she would retreat to the boiler room, her artist’s studio. Her children all remember it was
never a good idea to get sick or need Mom on those days. If you were not bleeding, you
would just have to wait until dinner time. Soon, she became “picture lady” for the
Sheboygan School District’s art appreciation program, promoting the arts as a key to
unlock historical, social and cultural problems. She was one of the many community
members who joined together with Ruth Kohler to help create the John Michael Kohler
Arts Center, a cherished space that celebrated the arts of all the people. This incredible
institution opened in 1967. There was no job that she did not happily volunteer –
cleaner, teacher, volunteer, hostess, docent, and artist. In 1971, Janet helped develop
and launch the docent program. She provided tours of the Art Center exhibitions for
over 40 years. She was deeply thankful that this institution insisted that it be free and
accessible for all members of the public to be able to enjoy the arts.
Her paintings, fabrics and stitchery have been enjoyed by all through the hundreds of
pieces she has created over the years. She has exhibited at galleries in Pennsylvania, and
Michigan, and JMKAC in Sheboygan. Her stitchery and fabrics have won awards in several
shows such as the 1974 “Women in the Arts” Exhibit at the West Bend Gallery of Art; the
1975 Arts Festival at Sheboygan’s John Michael Kohler Arts Center; and the JMKAC’s 1976
“Four Counties Show. More recently she had a retrospective of her favorite art pieces at
her own personal exhibit at the JMKAC.
Janet credited her strong sense of volunteerism to being a Sunday School teacher. For
over 21 years, she taught Sunday school, incorporating pressing issues of the day and
Bible scripture. She became involved in the Partners in Reading program, a Volunteer
Deputy Registrar for Voter Registration, Literacy Tutor, Planned Parenthood Volunteer,
Founder of the Choice Coalition, Meals on Wheels Volunteer, PEO member, Sheboygan
Arts Foundation Volunteer, and Human Rights Volunteer.
In the 1970’s she became very concerned about the environment and the impact the
nearby nuclear plant would have on the air and water quality. She decided it was time
for her to use her voice. When she protested at the site, Carl reassured the children
away at college that they should not worry because he had enough cash ready to bail her
out of jail!
In the early 1980’s she became one of the facilitators of the Ecumenical Peace Coalition.
This was started by the social concerns committees of Beth El Congregation, St. Clement
Parish, and First Congregational Church who wanted to work together for justice and
peace. This grew to include many congregations. It sponsored walks for hunger,
educational forums, prayer vigils, and advocacy efforts.
In 1985 Janet was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Sheboygan Human Rights
Association for raising her voice to advocate for World Peace. On August 4, 1986, Janet
went to Washington DC to add the four beautiful Sheboygan Banners of “Peace” and
“Love” to the 24,000 banners that were made by people in all 50 states and 11 countries.
These banners depicted what would be lost if there was a nuclear war.
Through her church, Janet became aware of the need for a strong voice for women to
ensure they had choices for the future. She founded the local Choice Coalition in the
1980’s to ensure that our community was providing good information about
reproductive health. She volunteered with members of her church to provide a
protective barrier of people to stand around the North Milwaukee Area Planned
Parenthood building so that people could safely access essential healthcare. She
considered justice for women her main motivator in her work for Planned Parenthood.
“We are often too polite because we need a tolerant society, but we can seem so tolerant
that we lose our say.”
She truly believed that small actions could have a strong ripple effect. This belief led her
to writing hundreds of letters to politicians about the important issues of peace, justice,
human rights, and democracy. She started a monthly Granny Caucus for women to
gather at her home to talk about the important issues of the day. This group along with
the League of Women Voters worked together every year to celebrate one of Janet’s
favorite days – Women’s Equality Day on August 26 th – a day to commemorate the 1920
adoption of the 19 th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
A voracious reader, Janet wanted to learn about the world every single day. This strong
passion for literacy inspired her to be a literacy council volunteer for dozens of adults
and a Partner of Reading for elementary children. Her own pile of books from Mead
Public Library and her subscriptions to the various newspapers and magazines meant
she was always ready to chat about the important issues of the world. Many family
members and friends have been happy recipients of “important” articles that were cut
out just for them.
Janet treasured her family and delighted in their journeys to learn more about the world.
Her favorite saying… “ I am so grateful to have such a nice family.” Janet is survived by
her children Deborah (Awni) Sarrif, Austin Timothy (Marcia) Church, Sara Church; Carla
(Greg Bohn) Ross and Hugh Andrew (Maeve Quinn) Ross.
She is survived by her grandchildren Andie (Lal) Stiles, Samia (Tom) Norpel, Deana (Justin
DeRosa) Sarrif, Jana Monseth, Bart (Katie McGough) Church, Brad (Jenna Kincaid) Church,
Lily Bohn, Chloe Bohn, Morgan Ross, and Mackenzie Ross.
She is also survived by her great grandchildren – Alex Norpel, Zoey Norpel, Tanner
Norpel, Arabelle Barron, Wyatt DeRosa, Austin DeRosa, and Jackson Church.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands – Ralph Church and Carl Ross,
her son-in-law Gary Monseth, and her grandson-in-law Derrick Barron.
She was a remarkable woman. Her quiet presence and thoughtful actions for art,
education, music, theatre, healthcare, justice, and peace, have left an enduring influence
on her children, grandchildren, friends, and her community. She described herself as a
“late-in life advocate” who finally decided “to plunge in and learn while doing.”
In honor of Janet’s treasured life, please take some time to… do a small action to support
your local community, share an important news article with friends and family,
remember to laugh at the absurd, and don’t forget to create some art.
There will be a private family burial at Wildwood Cemetery. A celebration of life gathering
will be held later this summer for family and friends.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Reverends Jim and Julia Hollister of
First Congregational Church, and the staff at Embrace and Sharon Richardson Hospice
for all the comfort and support given to Janet. In lieu of flowers, please consider a
donation in her name to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, John Michael Kohler Arts
Center, or the First Congregational Church of Sheboygan.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.reinboldfh.com.
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