Janice "Jan" P. White-Hielsberg

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Janice (Jan) Patricia (White) Hielsberg, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend on Friday, October 3rd, 2025. Her family was with her in the days leading up to her death, and she left this world peacefully, at the age of 66, with her loving husband, Jeff, by her side.

Jan was born in Chicago, IL on Christmas Eve in 1958 to Patricia Helen (La Chance) White and John Thomas White. She was one of seven children. She attended St. Scholastica elementary school, Woodridge school for 7th and 8th grade, then Downers Grover South for high school. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1982 with a degree in English, and a teaching license. She married Dennis Whitemarsh in 1982 and went on to have seven children, or as she liked to call them, her seven wonders: Savannah, Melinda, Holly, Alexandra, Brittany, Ray, and MaryAnna.

From an early age, Jan was a very gifted craftswoman. She could do it all, sewing, quilting, crocheting, and knitting. She made all the Baptismal gowns, Halloween costumes, First Communion dresses, and anything they could dream up. She was always thinking of others and remembered everyone’s birthday, even the bus driver. Jan put the magic into every holiday, and always had the house decorated to the nines, including Santa’s footprints on the fireplace and reindeer paws in the snow. She was a beloved preschool teacher for the local community in Montello, then went on to teach middle school for Neshkoro Elementary for ten years. She was a favorite among her students for sure. She also taught school for at risk kids at Winnebago Mental Health Institute. She had a way of reaching out and touching kids in trouble and was always willing to go the extra mile when she could. She was an avid reader and passed her love of literature onto her kids, and if not reading, a love of learning.

Jan later remarried Jeff Hielsberg and welcomed four more children into her life, Devon, Sarah, Sam, and Katie.

Jan and Jeff enjoyed riding on their motorcycle. Jan always compared herself on the back of the motorcycle to a dog with his head outside of a window. Just sheer joy in their eyes with the wind in their faces. They also loved snow shoeing. She always marveled at winter’s beauty while shoeing through the nature preserves in the area. But her favorite was camping at their favorite place, Lake Emily near Stevens Point. When Jan and Jeff retired, they headed out camping all over in the middle of the week when they had the whole campground to themselves. That only lasted a couple of times, as they felt there was something missing. They realized what was missing were the children. She would say, “What is camping without the children’s laughter, riding bikes all over, drawing pictures with chalk on the road, or splashing around down at the lake?” Jan had an adventurous spirit and was able to share this with others in her “camping years.” Their beloved dog Fuzz is already missing her.

Jan is survived by her husband Jeff, mother Patricia White, siblings, John (Kari) White, Connie (Dennis) Atkinson, Julie White, Brenda White, Brian (Jessica) White, children Savannah Whitemarsh, Melinda (Mark) Koski, Holly (Jeremie) Conrey, Alexandra (Tyler) Hittle, Brittany (James) Soda, Ray (Natalie) Whitemarsh, Maryanna Whitemarsh, and her stepchildren Devon (Kate) Hielsberg, Samuel (Isabella) Hielsberg, Sarah Hielsberg, and Katie (Jason) Karl. With this family, Jan was blessed with numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Jan is preceded in death by her grandparents, her father Jack, and her brother Vincent White, who died on her birthday in 2009.

Jan loved her family, coffee, and golden retrievers, and we hope and imagine her now sipping a hot mug on a cool morning, with her old goldens, Ralphy and Nick by her side, saving a place, waiting for Fuzz.

A memorial service for Jan will be held at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside, 100 Lake Pointe Dr. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will take place at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Elijah’s Place and Aseracare Hospice for their special and loving care of Jan in her final months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

We all love you, and we’ll see you in due time.