Janet E. Ross

Even the best of trips have an end date.  After 84 vibrant years, Janet “Jan” (Mroz) Ross of Stuart, FL passed away on January 19, 2025 in Kewanee, IL.

Jan was born on August 1, 1940 at Memorial Hospital in Wausau, WI to the late Alex Ignatius Mroz and Genevieve Leola (Farnham) Priewe of Wausau, WI.  Jan graduated from Whitewater High School in 1959.  At the young age of 19, she met and later married, James Albert Geffert of Reedsburg, WI on June 10, 1961.  They were blessed with 4 children: Walter (Dana) Geffert of Geneseo, IL, Peter (Sara) Geffert of Pewaukee, WI, Andrew (Marci) Geffert of Madison, WI, and Joy (Jim) Gardner of Kalamazoo, MI. 

After majoring in English and French, Jan graduated from Carroll College (now Carroll University) on June 10, 1962.  She taught French and English at Middleton High School for 2 years before starting a family. She returned to teaching at Kettle Moraine High School from 1975 to 1997 during which time she also earned a Master's degree in Humanities from New York University in 1985.  After retiring in 1997, she enlisted in the Peace Corps where she traveled to Madagascar, serving the Malagash people from 1998 - 2000.  She closed out her teaching chapter with one final year at Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida.

Jan recalled fondly when she was young how her father would take her and her brother on car trips to Yellowstone, Pikes Peak, the Smoky Mountains, and the Black Hills during summer breaks from school. She recreated those kinds of adventures with her own kids via canoe trips, camping, hiking, and driving trips to New York and D.C. 

At the age of 45, she got her first passport. Having majored in French, Jan had always dreamed of traveling to Paris, France and she finally got her chance!  She loved it.  By the time her grandkids were older, Jan was, by all definitions, a “seasoned traveler”.  It was one of her greatest joys to invite each grandchild on a trip abroad to a country of their choosing.  She ignited an appetite for travel that has already transcended generations.  All in all, Jan traveled to over 20 countries in her lifetime, stepping foot on every continent except Antarctica (which she waved at from the southernmost tip of New Zealand).

From 2000 until the end, she was delighted to call Florida home! Jan would get up before dawn, insistent on wearing all light colors so that traffic would see her, and she would set out to walk the bridge over the St. Lucie River near her home.  Sometimes she walked all the way to the Ocean and back!  It was her “treat” at the end of these walks to rest on the benches at the top of the Evans Crary or Ernest Lyons bridges before heading home.  From that vantage point, she loved watching the morning sun rise over the water.

The last few years of Jan’s life were a struggle as the ugly grip of dementia took hold. One by one the memories of a beautiful life flickered and dimmed. Yet, to the very end, she continued to find great satisfaction in striking up conversations with everyone from her nursing home neighbors to her caretakers.  Her uncanny ability to hold a bold and opinionated conversation never changed. Her creative mind was one-of-a-kind.  Even at 80+ years old, Jan had such a distinct gift to piece together whatever narrative fit her holey memory, and it brought such joy and quirkiness to every dialogue.

Left to cherish her memory are four children, their spouses, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and two more on the way. Grandchildren include Janie Messler, Leslie Geffert, Rebekah (Bobby) Mette, Sean (Genevieve) Geffert, Rajiv Geffert, Melody Geffert, Grey Gardner, and Ingrid Gardner. Before her memory faded, she had the pleasure of meeting her great grandson Logan Charles Geffert when he was just six weeks old. 

Jan was preceded in death by her brother Basil Mroz, nephew Kevin Mroz and grandson Logan John Geffert.

In accordance with Jan’s wishes, her body has been cremated, and no formal service will take place. The family will gather later in 2025 to spread her ashes.

May she fly as free as butterflies, which she adored.

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