Judith "Judy" Janusevic

 Judith I. Janusevic, 93, died peacefully on July 2, 2025, at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, after a long illness. She was born on March 7, 1932, to Harold and Ellen (Engstrom) Anderson, in Merrill, WI. Judy’s grandparents were founding members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church there, and they dedicated a stained glass window in the Engstrom name. Along with her sisters, Judy played the cello in her high school orchestra, and sang in several church choirs, as her mother, Ellen, was the music director at two churches. Judy graduated from Merrill High School, Class of 1950. On August 10, 1957, Judy married the love of her life, Thomas “Tom” Janusevic, in Merrill, and together they built a life filled with family, friendship, and a passion for aviation.

Judy was a proud graduate of the SwedishAmerican Hospital School of Nursing in 1953, and practiced as a registered nurse at SwedishAmerican Hospital, UW Hospital in Madison, WI, and as Dr. Kenneth Skaar’s office nurse in his private practice. In later years, she also worked at Nicholson Gift Shoppe with a nursing school classmate.

Judy’s favorite hobbies included sewing, quilting, knitting, working on puzzles, playing solitaire on her tablet, keeping up with extended family on Facebook, and listening to music. She was a long-time member of Zion Lutheran Church, Rockford, IL., a quilting/sewing circle group of dear friends, and a past member of Sinnissippi Quilters. Along with her husband Tom, she was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA Chapter 22-Cottonwood Airport, and participated in serving at yearly chapter pancake breakfasts and other fundraisers. She volunteered at the EAA Sweepstakes building during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, selling tickets for the “airplane raffle” for several weeks every summer. Her children and grandchildren joined her and Tom in volunteering. She was honored to receive the prestigious EAA President’s Award (1994) for her contributions representing the “essence” of the EAA, and recognizing her many years of service.

Judy was predeceased by her parents, her mother and father-in-law Jacob and Helen Janusevic, and her devoted husband of 68 years, Tom, on February 16, 2025. Also predeceased by grandson Jacob Janusevic (2009), her siblings Jeanne Sipple, Mary Freed, Reverend Wilton “Bud” Anderson and brothers-in-law Reverend John Freed, Ron Brachle, and Robert Williamson. She is survived by her beloved children, Bruce (Kathy) Janusevic, and Mary (Jay) Sine, and cherished grandchildren, Zachary (Courtney) Haugdahl, Jeff (Madeline) Janusevic, all of Rockford, IL, and Emily (Kolton) Kuczynski Winnebago, IL. Survived by her sisters Faye Marsceau, Merrill, WI, and Juliann Brachle, Lakewood, MN, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and a circle of extended family and lifelong friends.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude for the compassionate care provided by the staff of UWHealth Swedish American Hospital, East Bank and Van Matre Rehab Centers, and Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center.

A memorial service for both Tom and Judy will be held on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61108. A visitation will take place an hour prior from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Final resting place at Scandinavian Cemetery.

Toms' obituary may be viewed here: https://www.sundbergfh.com/obituary/Thomas-Janusevic 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family, and will be designated to Zion Lutheran Church, Rockford, IL, the Rock River Valley Aviation Foundation and the Ray Aviation Scholarship at EAA Chapter 22, Cottonwood Airport. To send online condolences and share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.