Janet Wilson

Janet Wilson ("Jan"), 84, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Paul House in Chicago after a long decline. Jan's life was one of resilience, curiosity, and deep appreciation for the beauty found in everyday moments. Born in Springfield, Missouri, and raised in Illinois, she graduated from Proviso West High School in Hillside before beginning a life filled with family, adventure, and lasting friendships. From high school, Jan worked for American Airlines as a ticket agent, which inspired her love of foreign travel. In the late 60s, Jan married her first husband, and together they welcomed two daughters. After spending a decade in Bartlett, Illinois, the family embraced a new adventure by purchasing a resort in Branson, Missouri. Following their divorce, Jan worked as a banker and often recounted the remarkable story of surviving an armed bank robbery—a testament to her calm spirit and remarkable resilience. She eventually returned to Springfield, where she built a successful career in office management with Coldwell Banker. After a brief second marriage, Jan found lasting happiness with Kenneth R. Wilson. Their years together were filled with love and companionship until Ken's passing. Later, Jan made her home in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, to be closer to family, and where she delighted in the company of several cherished feline companions. Jan had a lifelong sense of wonder about the world around her. She found joy in flowers blooming in spring, birds visiting her window, and gazing at the night sky as an amateur astronomer. She was an avid stamp collector, an armchair cheerleader for the Chicago Cubs, and never passed up a good Sudoku puzzle. She loved poetry and music — perhaps no one was a bigger fan of Barbra Streisand — delighted in tracing her family's history through genealogy, enjoyed traveling to new places, and had a gift for storytelling that brought laughter, wisdom, and treasured memories to those fortunate enough to listen. Above all, Jan's greatest joy was her family. She was the loving mother of Elizabeth (Walter) Stock of Chicago and Pamela (Daniel) Galenkamp of Decatur, Georgia; the proud and devoted grandmother of Evelyn and Nicholas Galenkamp; dear stepmother of Deborah Wilson of New Jersey and Kenneth Jr. and Barbara Wilson of Springfield, Missouri; and a loving aunt to Vicky Snow of Earlville, Illinois. Jan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth Wilson; her sister, Judith Milholland; and her parents, Thomas Kibbe and June Kibbe (née King). The family has chosen a private cremation. A celebration of Jan's life and the burial of her cremated remains at Missouri Veterans Cemetery are being planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jan's honor to a local animal shelter or rescue organization, reflecting her lifelong love of cats. Those who knew Jan will remember her warm stories, her curiosity about the world and beyond, her love of nature and the stars, and the kindness she shared with family, friends, and every cat fortunate enough to find its way into her home. Jan’s life was a reminder that joy can be found in simple pleasures, enduring love, and the memories we leave behind. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

Janet Wilson

December 10, 1941 - June 27, 2026