Janis Jean Quest Johnson

Janis Jean Quest Johnson was a beloved wife, mother and Nana during her 72 years of life. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 surrounded by her family. Jan will be remembered for her joyful personality, contagious laugh, compassionate soul, and undying devotion to the people around her, especially her family.
Jan was born on July 28,1952 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to John and Barbara (Springhuth) Gross. Her siblings are Michael Gross and Alexis (Tracy) Swindler and the late Daniel (Brenda) Gross. She grew up in Milwaukee and then later moved and graduated from Hustisford High School.
Jan lived in Watertown, WI and raised her family to include children Rachel Quest Schmidt, Michele Quest (James) Layne and Matthew (Pauline) Quest with their father, Dennis Quest. Jan worked at Watertown Memorial Hospital. When her children were grown, she was a residential real estate agent with Century 21 and earned the Centurion award as a top income producer in the country.
Jan married the late Dr. James Johnson on October 20, 2000 and they lived along the river in Wisconsin Rapids. They shared their 23 years together enjoying time with their family to include her children and Jim's children John (Brooke) Johnson and Joe (Kari Reinke) Johnson. They loved their chocolate labs and cats. Jan was a skilled gardener and tended to her beautiful yard of flowers, berry bushes, and rhubarb. She also enjoyed feeding the birds, squirrels, and ducks that congregated in their back yard. Her kitchen was always filled with the smells of fresh cooking and baking, and, most notably, her cheesy potatoes, frosted cut out cookies, and homemade jam.
"Nana", as her grandchildren knew her, was loved dearly by Natalie, Allison and Olivia Schmidt, Sean Balistreri, Madison and Ryan Quest, Stella and Wyatt Johnson and Jocelyn and Abram Johnson.
Jan kept nothing short of busy. When she wasn't away from her Wisconsin Rapids home visiting family, she volunteered for the South Wood County Humane Society and was integral in raising funds to construct the new and current facility. She loved her time with her circle of friends in the Wisconsin Rapids book club she started and in the Wisconsin River Garden Club and Travel Class. She also met many special women and dear friends through her involvement in the Stevens Point PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization).
Jan and Jim loved their time with family and friends at their up-north Boulder Junction home as well as their Door County home in Fish Creek. Jan enjoyed more time in Door County in her later years and took cooking and baking classes, volunteered at the Anderson Store Museum in Ephraim, and attended Bethany Lutheran Church.
Jan and Jim shared a love of adventure and traveled the world together. They spent time in the winter in Arizona and had a blast with dear friends from back home. Mexico was another destination Jan and Jim enjoyed with their family. For her 60th birthday, they planned something she held most dear to her heart which was "Family Time" through a trip to Wyoming with her children and grandchildren, where they saw Yellowstone National Park, rode horses, rafted, and enjoyed nature together. She was always looking to try something new, like dancing with Jim at the Whiting Dance Club.
Throughout her whole adult life, Jan created countless memories and traditions for her family that will surely be continued. Trips to Mexico, fun times at Jan and Jim's cabin in Boulder Junction and at their place in Door County, celebrations with Simma's cheesecake, trips to Chicago to the American Girl Doll store, musicals, Easter egg hunts, Christmas dress-up themes, baking and cooking classes, and the list goes on. Jan loved her family dearly and showed it constantly with her integral role in her family's lives.
Jan was known for her talents of cooking, gardening, and fashion. She was known for her social connectedness. She was known for her love of animals. She was also known for her nickname, Trixie, which became a term of endearment. But most importantly, Jan was known for her selfless, caring, generous heart.
Jan will be missed dearly but we know she and Jim will be dancing in heaven. She will be reunited with many loved ones, especially her granddaughter, Peyton Lilly Quest.
The family would like to thank Jan's dear friend and companion Marie Hocken, who enriched the end of her life with beautiful conversation and special homemade treats and love. Many thanks of gratitude for those who loved and cared for her at Azura Assisted Living in Brookfield, WI.
Please join the family for one last "Coffee Clutch" with Jan in celebrating her life at the Bulls Eye Country Club on September 29, 2024 at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jan's name to the South Wood County Humane Society.