Janice P. Hazen

Janice "Jan" P. Hazen, 88, of New London, died Saturday, December 6th at St. Cloud Hospital from injuries received in an automobile accident. Her Time of Remembrance will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20th at Little Crow Golf Resort, near New London. Visitation will be from 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19th at Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org

Memorials may be directed to American Heart Association – www.heart.org/donate or Safe Avenues - www.willmarshelter.com/donate

Jan lived many lives in her 88 years. It all began on January 13, 1937, near Winthrop, the daughter of Walter and Helen (Stark) Rettmann. Growing up alongside her four sisters as a farm girl, she learned early, how to work hard, laugh often, and make something out of whatever the day handed her. She attended Country School #70, located on her Stark grandparents' farm, where she was the smartest in her small class of 5. She graduated from Gibbon High School in 1954 and afterward worked at Winthrop Bank and later Kraft Foods in New Ulm.

In 1957, she was united in marriage to Larry Dolce, and together they welcomed four children. Their life took them through New Ulm, Redwood Falls, Jamestown, and Syracuse, NY, before settling in Willmar in 1963. While in Willmar, Jan worked at the Bank of Willmar, and in 1983 she joined Satellite Computing, where she met Dr. Richard "Dick" Hazen. With Dick came not just a partner, but four stepchildren and a whole new chapter of life. Jan didn't simply blend a family, she expanded it, making room with her whole heart. Jan and Dick made their home near New London, in Burbank township. Starting in 1986, they cherished spending many winters on the island of Kauai, HI. In 1990 Jan and Dick built a beautiful home at the Northwest Angle, Lake of the Woods, which they named, "The Hazen Angle Tower House".

Jan lived life at full volume. A go-getter and true energizer bunny, she seemed to have a secret battery pack tucked somewhere in one of her many fancy purses. Her adventurous spirit took her skydiving-more than once-into pilot training, and across miles of travel with family and the Good Neighbor Club.

She was always game. Jan loved golf and bowling, approached lawn care with the precision of a professional and the pride of an artist, and danced whenever the music moved her-no occasion necessary.

Wherever she went-Hawaii, across the world, the golf course, card games, Lions, bowling league, or PEO-she made friends easily, genuinely, and often for life. She loved her family deeply and found special joy in watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow. She was fashion-forward and sparkling-not that the sparkle came from her clothes. Jan just sparkled naturally.

She will be missed, more than words can express, but she leaves behind a family full of stories, laughter, and a legacy of saying yes to life.

Jan is survived by her children: Greg Dolce, Steve (Lori) Dolce, Kimberly Schmit, Denise (CJ) Hoffbeck, Megan (Steve Carpenter) Hazen, Marget (Ed) Sanchez, Andrew Hazen, and Elizabeth (Whiz) Hazen; ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her special friend, Bob Knutson and was a very special aunt to many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Hazen; grandsons, Joshua Schmit and Daniel Wicklund; her son-in-law, Gregory Schmit; nephew, Jeff Bastian, and four sisters: Muriel Barfknecht, Carol Kempfert, Eldonna Bastian, Shirley Stiller.