Janet Ann [Whelan] Ruotsala

1930 - 2017

Janet Ann (Whelan) Ruotsala passed away peacefully April 6, 2017 at her home at Wildflower Court.

Janet was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 6, 1930, and was raised in Easton, PA. During the war years she and her younger sister would travel by train to their grandmother's farm in Kansas. She could remember long hours waiting on sidings while troop trains passed. Right after the war when Janet was 16, she and her mother and two sisters made an arduous car trip cross country to her mother's home town of Seattle. They bought a house but were not allowed to see the inside until after the purchase because of the severe housing shortage after the war. Janet finished high school in Seattle and attended the University of Washington where she met Dan Whelan. They married in 1949. Janet and Dan lived in Seattle, Portland, and Bellingham before heading north with their four children. In Alaska they lived in Dillingham, Sitka, Juneau, and Kenai. After Dan passed away Janet became City Clerk of Kenai. She was fond of traveling and visited many places in the U.S. as well as Germany, England, Spain, and France. She then hiked the Chilkoot Trail when she was 53.

In 1987 she married James (Jim) Ruotsala who shared many of the interests including Alaskana, History, traveling, and Juneau. Jim and Janet moved to Jim's birth place of Juneau which Janet had always loved. Together they belonged and were very active in many organizations, including Pioneers of Alaska, VFW, American Legion, Moose Club, and Juneau Historical Society. Janet also remained active in her college sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, the United Way and various other organizations as well as working for local attorney Douglas Gregg. In their later years, Janet and Jim traveled extensively around Alaska and the U.S. and abroad to Finland, England, and Scotland.

Janet's chief joy was her family. She had a great sense of humor and was always enthusiastic about anything and everything. Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting Janet will remember Janet's lovely smile, and infectious laugh, and her positive outlook on life. Janet was equally at home, camping, or at a Broadway theatre.

Janet was preceded in death by her husbands: Dan Whelan and James Ruotsala; her parents Henry "Eskie" Clark and Merle McClennen Clark; her siblings Merle Rose (Al) Klotz, Joan (Jerry) Den, and Henry (Maggie) Clark. She is survived by her sister Noni (Bob) Milmoe; children Doug (Carol) Whelan, Peggy Maclnnis, Michael (Becky) Whelan, and Bruce (Theresa) Whelan; grandchildren Jennifer Whelan and Jana Maclnnis; and great grandson Lee Stoops.

A Celebration of Life is planned for August 4, 2017 in Juneau.