Had she made it to her 90th birthday, Janice Catherine Thill might have celebrated by visiting the Bonlender dairy farm. The milking parlor and all those cows fascinated her. Or had it been possible to go to an auction, she would have been there, standing near the front, opening the bidding if the auctioneers were taking too long in their description of the item for sale. Just as likely, Janice might have puttered in her yard, pulling weeds, moving some of her rummage sale treasures into a better position, filling bird feeders, taking in the country air. Janice was, above all things, an independent country woman who knew exactly what she enjoyed doing, and she made time to do those things.

Janice was born Oct. 2, 1936, to Bernetta (Reindl) and Jacob Bruessel. She joined two siblings, Doris and Jake, Jr., and was later followed by two more sisters, Lavilla and Carol. She was a proud graduate of Kewaskum High School where she excelled in all the typing and shorthand classes, and likely would have competed in sports, had girls’ sports been available then. Janice graduated in 1954 and went immediately to work for one of the vice presidents at Regal Ware. The story goes that on one of her lunchtime walks with a co-worker, she encountered a handsome young guy pumping gas at Honeck’s. She was so taken by this young man, that she stopped for gas three consecutive days when he was working the gas pumps. He took the hint and asked her out. Their first date was a Sunday afternoon fishing excursion on Long Lake. Janice and Allen Thill were married a few years later, on Oct. 11, 1958.

Janice and Allen spent the following years living in the country. They gardened, helped their parents, and raised their daughters. Up-North vacations often included some fishing. Janice was only 52 years old when Allen passed away on Nov. 23, 1988.

Proud to be a lifelong Kewaskum area resident until her move to Serenity Villa Campbellsport in 2022, Janice knew the backroads of Washington County and where to find any and every rummage sale and auction. She faithfully clipped the auction ads from the Action Advertiser and used them to plan her weekends, often hitting several auctions and rummage sales in one day. Her Saturday excursions often ended with evening Mass in whatever town she happened to be in—she knew the Mass schedules of all the small towns in the area.

Regal Ware figured again in Janice’s life, when she returned in the early ‘70s and became secretary to the vice president of the Direct Sales Division. She retired in the mid-90s after 25 years and embarked on a busy retirement.

Janice is survived by two daughters, Barbara and Jean (Pat) Lowney and one granddaughter, Emily Lowney; and her sisters, Carol (Dennis) Weiss and Lavilla Lache. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen; parents Bernetta (Reindl) and Jacob Bruessel; parents-in-law Mildred (Sabish) and Clarence Thill; sister Doris Bonlender, brother Jake; brothers-in-law Robert Bonlender, Peter Lache and Anthony Schlaefer; and sisters-in-law Marjorie Schlaefer and Audrey Siers. Janice is further survived by her beloved Reindl cousins and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Aug. 28, 2026, at noon at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (305 Main St., Kewaskum, Wis.) with Rev. Patrick Magnor officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends at the church from 10 a.m. until the start of Mass. A lunch will follow Mass. Interment will be at Holy Trinity Cemetery after the lunch.

Memorials in Janice’s name can be made to Holy Trinity School or the charity of your choice.

The family is forever grateful for the loving and faithful care Janice received from her friend and caregiver, Cheryl Steffes, as well as the tender and devoted care she received at Serenity Villa Campbellsport.

Myrhum – Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Janice's arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.