Janice V. Fredrick
January 31, 1929 – January 4, 2023
Jan Fredrick was born Janice V. Johnson on Jan. 31, 1929, in Clarinda, IA. She was the first child of I. Martin and Ida V. Johnson. Jan’s family expanded in 1934 to include a brother, Gerald, but tragically lost him at just two years old. The family welcomed another brother, Carrol, in 1937. Janice spent her early years on the farm with her family and, at the tender age of 15, moved to Red Oak to attend High School. Jan supported herself by taking care of a young boy in exchange for room and board. After graduating from Red Oak High School in 1947, Jan entered the workforce in the Omaha area. Jan spent time with her best friend and second cousin, Colleen Burns, in Omaha and liked to visit the Royal Grove at the “World Famous Peony Park” and Sokol Hall.
One of her favorite jobs was working at United Airlines. While she worked in the HR department, she always wanted to be a flight attendant. She loved to tell the story of taking her parents on their first plane ride to Oregon and California. Her Dad was “glued to the window” for the entire plane ride! She always loved school and decided to attend The Commercial Extension School of Commerce for Secretarial Training, graduating on May 12, 1955.
The story of Jan and Gil started on January 4, 1958, when Gil asked Jan for a dance at Sokol Hall in Omaha. He proposed on April 11,1959 and they were married on June 20, 1959, at St. Peters Catholic Church in Omaha. Colleen was her maid of honor and Paul Diedrich was the best man. Gil and Jan remained close with both of them for the rest of their lives. Gil and Jan moved to Ft. Dodge, IA for Gil’s job and on August 22, 1963, they had a daughter, Sandra. They moved to Omaha shortly afterwards and in 1965, they built their first house in Kingswood. While everyone thought Gil was crazy building “all the way out west!” (137th and Center), it turned out to be a great move for the family. Daniel was added to the family on September 15, 1970, and the Fredrick family was complete.
Gil continued his career at AMF as a Regional Sales Manager and Jan kept the house and kids in order. Anyone who knew Jan also knew that she was an immaculate housekeeper and worked hard to keep two kids and the house clean. No small feat with two active kids! Jan kept busy by supporting Sandy and Dan with Girl Scouts, Baseball, and school activities. Jan was a taxi driver and so much more as the kids grew. Eventually, the family moved to Parkside in 1977, just north of the original house where they lived until building a new home in Nelson’s Creek in 1990. Jan and Gil lived in Nelson’s Creek until May 2017 when they “retired” to live at Maple Ridge Independent living. They liked living there and Jan especially like not having to cook any longer. She was proud of the fact that she never turned on the oven. After Gil’s passing in 2018, Jan decided that she would relocate to Ridgewood Assisted Living in Bennington. Jan enjoyed playing Bingo and Kings in the Corner with her friends and even taught her family to play cards. She beat them all the time!
Jan passed away on January 4th, 2023, exactly 65 years from the day she met Gil. She was well loved by everyone she met and will be missed but we all hope she’s dancing and enjoying herself with all of her family and friends in Heaven.
We love you, Mom!
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Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert L. Fredrick; parents, Ida and Martin Johnson; brother, Gerald Johnson. She is survived by her children, Sandra Dykstra (Brian) and Dan Fredrick (Jamieson); grandchildren: Kyle, Derek, Kymberli, and Paige; brother, Carrol Johnson (Maggie); nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
The Family will receive friends on Monday, January 9th from 6pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel with Vigil Service at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, January 10th, 10am at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 1920 N. 102nd Street. Interment: Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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