Photo courtesy of Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home - Moose Lake
Mar 10, 1954 - Sep 16, 2025
We only knew Janice a bit through Aja and Nancy. We are so grateful for all she gave to those two via friendship, caretaking. And the harvest from her farm.
May her peace now be your comfort and may her memory be sweet.
With thanks.
Roy and randee crist
Roy/Randee Crist
October 05, 2025 | Stillwater, MN | Acquaintance
Condolences to Tom and his family. Janice sounded like an exceptional woman, and we're so sorry for your loss. God bless, Mike and Donna Tokarczyk
Michael (Mike) and Donna Tokarczyk
October 04, 2025 | Two Harbors, MN | Family
Janice was a very beautiful person, she welcomed you with open arms. Janice was an amazing cook, and a loving person overall. She will be dearly missed. I will never forget how she treated me like family even though we are not related by blood. I only knew Janice for about 2 years, and I wish it was more. I love you Janice, hope to see you again someday!
Jocee Rising Sun
October 03, 2025 | Duluth, MN | Friend
We met Janice over 6 years ago when we moved to the area. She was our egg lady who became our friend. She will be greatly missed. To Tom and family, we are so sorry for your loss of such a great lady!!
Sandy Dianoski Dale Dianoski
September 30, 2025 | Sturgeon Lake, MN | Friend
Tom and my Handberg cousins, I will cherish my many fond memories of Jan. Jim and I always enjoyed dropping by the farm on our road trips.
Jan Miles
September 27, 2025 | Tustin, CA
We are so sorry for your loss Tom. Sending prayers for you and your family. I always enjoyed seeing and visiting with Jan. I worked at The One Stop and loved seeing her drive in with her snazzy yellow car. And then enjoyed working with her at Nemadji. She will be missed
Lu Hoiland
September 27, 2025 | Friend
Tom sorry to hear of your loss. Wish we could have got together to know your family. Remember going to Gheen to see all the family there. After we all got older and busier lost touch. Did get to see your brother with my mom at the station. Again sorry for your loss, hold the memories of her in your heart and she will always be there with you.
Mary Ann Wojciehowski-Johnson
September 24, 2025 | Cloquet, MN
It was a honor to have her as my step mom, I have some of the best memories as a young girl and she will always be the mother I think of when I think of my childhood. She made the best home-made pizza too. Her smile was infectious, I loved her.
Tonia Cope
September 22, 2025 | Ault, CO | Family
Janice Elizabeth (Handberg) Tokarczyk, 71, Sturgeon Lake, passed peacefully surrounded by family Tuesday, September 16, 2025 in Moose Lake Village after her journey with cancer. She was born on March 10, 1954 in Virginia, MN as the 5th of 7 children to Peter N. and Ruth E. (Main) Handberg. Janice graduated from Duluth East HS and attended Duluth Technical College for computer programming.
In 1993, she moved to Sturgeon Lake with Tom Tokarczyk (married May 30, 2000). Janice and Tom spent countless hours tending and building the farm into their own personal haven with numerous gardens and much love. Jan’s love of animals reflected in her home which housed her dogs, cats, alpacas, peacocks and numerous chickens. She was a past owner of fish and spent much time nurturing her salt water aquariums.
Janice was known for her deep love of nature. The woods and lakes of Northern Minnesota were her Temple as well as her home. She loved and honored all life selflessly. She enjoyed camping and fishing and found immense contentment outdoors. She was a Master Gardener in both Pine and Carlton county as well as a member of the NE MN Bee Keepers Association. She had her Cottage License and sold her much coveted eggs, jams, jellies, canned goods and honey at local markets and stores and had a following of many regular customers.
Janice also loved rocks, crystals, art, handcrafted items, and music. She especially loved attending local musical events and befriended many local musicians. She appreciated the beauty and efforts needed to create those amazing gifts in music and the arts as well as in nature. Janice’s talents and love of life reflected in her relationships and she touched so many lives with her vibrancy and vitality.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Peter N. and Ruth E. Handberg.
Janice will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Tom; Daughters: Jessica-Lee (Benjamin) Lais, Pearl (Glenn) Schulte, and Bonus Daughters: Crystal (Tyler Mossberg) Tokarczyk, Jill (Joe Garritano) Tokarczyk, Karen Tokarczyk, Laura (Brad) McCauley, Rikki (Matt) Tokarczyk-Cantin, and Tonia (Todd) Cope; and many, many grandchildren; 6 siblings: Peter Handberg, Sherman Handberg, Chris (Bob) Halverson, Mary Hartje, Beverly (Bret) Amick, and Ruthann (Bart) Weelborg; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Gathering of Family and Friends will be from Noon until the 1 pm Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 4, 2025 in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake. Lunch and fellowship will follow the commemoration.
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