Janet Lucille Guttormson, 86
Published 6:21 am Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Janet Lucille Guttormson, 86, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus-Rochester.
Janet Lucille Guttormson, 86
Janet was born to Kenneth and Alice (Anderson) Myers on Aug. 17, 1932, in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. She grew up in the Blooming Prairie and Owatonna, Minnesota, areas before moving to Austin, where she met and married Arnold Hoveland of Mason City, Iowa, in 1950. They had one child, Connie. Arnie passed away in 1964. In 1966, she married Jim Guttormson. They had three children, Scott, Mark and Laurie. While raising the children, Jan was actively involved with the family business, Jimmy’s Fish and Seafood of Austin.
Church was an important part of her life. As a member of the First United Methodist Church, she was active in the Women’s Group and many other committees. For many years, she and Jean Noel delivered flowers to the church’s shut-ins and nursing home members.
Jan bowled for many years, was a member of the Austin Garden Club and the Minnesota Extension Group, and faithfully delivered Meals on Wheels for years. She served as a board member for both Meals on Wheels and the Hormel Home. Jan was also a member of the Austin Area Zonta Club and in 1990 was chosen as the Zonta Woman of the Year for her dedicated service. In 1996, Jan was chosen as the honorary chairperson of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Her zest for life was insatiable. If there was fun to be had, Jan was part of it. Her big smile will always be remembered. She had a heart so full of love and did many things to help her aunts and uncles in their later years. She loved spending time with her family, including her seven siblings, and there was always lots of laughter and love when they got together.
Janet is survived by her husband, Jim; children, Connie Hoveland, Scott (Lia) Guttormson and Laurie (Jesse) Guttormson-Smith; grandchildren, Katie (Casey) McIntyre, Carrie Braaten (Brandon Moore), Isaiah Smith, Chloe Guttormson, Henry Smith and Cooper Guttormson; three great-granddaughters, Clara, Bria and Agnes McIntyre; brothers, George (Ina) Myers, Ron (Arlene) Myers and Doug (Judy) Myers; and many nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Arnie; son, Mark, in infancy; her parents; sisters, Margie, Norma, Lois and Pat; and nephews, Mitchell Myers, Mike Guttormson and Dennis Guttormson.
Special thanks to the staff of Home Instead Senior Care for the compassionate care they gave Janet. Her faith sustained her through her many medical issues over the years. She fought the good fight until the end.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at First United Methodist Church in Austin with the Rev. Dennis Tamke officiating. Visitation was held from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and continues for one hour before the service on Tuesday at the church. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Memorials in Jan’s memory may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Austin or the Alice Myers Scholarship Fund in Blooming Prairie.