Janet Belknap

Janet Louise (Gnau) Belknap passed away peacefully at home on June 27, 2023. She was born June 8, 1923 in Jersey Shore, PA to Henry Oscar and Harriet Agnes (Houser) Gnau. She was the youngest of six children. Janet graduated from Jersey Shore High School in 1942. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 during WWII and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. It was during her service that she met Leo Leonard Belknap, who she married in 194¬4. Following their marriage, they moved to Marion, Ohio, ultimately settling in Westfield, NY. Together, they established Belknap Business Forms which began with a small printing press in the backroom of their Maple Springs, NY home. It was here that they raised their three children, Michael (Mike) Leonard Belknap, Joanne Louise (Belknap) Elsom, and Anita Lynne (Belknap) Bourgeois. Janet later lived in South Carolina, settling in Staunton, VA in 1988.
Janet loved reading, travel, musicals, and movies. She enjoyed eating out, particularly at Cracker Barrell and Panera. She was an especially good cook, taking special joy in keeping her spaghetti and meatballs recipe secret. She was also an enormous fan of the Buffalo Bills. She will be remembered as stubborn, generous, and always busy - often clearing Thanksgiving dinners when there as a pause in eating. She was a much-loved Gramma to her grandchildren and GrammaGramma to her great grands.
She is survived by her children Michael of Taylors, SC and Anita of Staunton, VA; seven grandchildren, Micah David Elsom (Valerie) of Fort Collins, CO; Joshua Leo Elsom (Dana) of Waxahachie, TX; Jonah Paul Elsom (Mabel) of Spokane, WA; Erin Lynne (Tanner) Laster (Clark) of Wake, VA; Michelle Christine Belknap of New Port Richie, FL; James Louis Tanner of Staunton, VA; Rebecca Joanne (Tanner) Campbell of Disputanta, VA; and ten great-grandchildren (Alexis Sue Elsom, Alivia Joanne Elsom, Noah Asher Elsom, Herbert Lucas Patteson, Sarah Elizabeth Laster, Eve Marie Elsom, Ava Belle Elsom, Noah Evan Campbell, Sawyer Leo Ellis Laster, and Silas James Campbell), and a great-great-grandson who is expected in November. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents; four sisters, Eva Mae Gnau Leahy, Alice Inez Gnau, Norma Jean Gnau Marks Schaefer, and infant sister Zona Dean Gnau; her brother, Lewis Henry Gnau; nephew William Marks and daughter Joanne Belknap Elsom.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date with interment at the Jersey Shore Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.