Janet Grace Thiry, age 83, of Hayward, WI, formerly of Pine City, MN passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Friday, March 29, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, MN.  She was born on February 19, 1936 in Pine City, MN, the daughter of Clarence and Evelyn (Walberg) Schwartzwald. She was united in marriage to Gerald Joseph Thiry on May 14, 1960 in Pine City, MN. 

Jan was an only child and grew up in Pine City, MN. She met her future husband Jerry early in childhood and began dating him at 15 years old. Upon graduation, she moved to Minneapolis and worked as an office administrator at Mckesson and Robbins. She married into the large, musical family of the Thirys in 1960 and Jerry and Jan moved to Hayward, WI shortly after, where they raised 5 children. Jan and Jerry initially bought a carwash and then a property that became the Hayward Fame Flea Market, which she managed for nearly 30 years. Jan was active in her church, Saint Joseph's Catholic, as well as supported Catholic ministries and prolife ministries throughout her life. Her faith in the Lord sustained her throughout her life. She was an avid reader, a legacy that she has handed down to her children and grandchildren, loved playing bridge and did so for decades. Jan loved to snowmobile, shoot bow and arrow and camp in her younger years and still camped in an RV upon retirement, every year for 19 winters in Apache Junction, AZ with her husband and best friend, Jerry. She loved the music of Neil Diamond, Gordon Lightfoot and Andy Williams and dancing with Jerry was a huge part of their daily life, whether at home in the living room, at family gatherings or out on the town. She hosted Christmas and Thanksgiving every year with her children since 1961. She enjoyed the program MASH and playing cards with her children and grandchildren. She was a good cook and made countless creative recipes with wild game. She liked to laugh, be outside in the sun and have a martini. The greatest joy for Jan was spending time talking with her five kids and sixteen grandchildren and she prayed for them daily. Her greatest sorrow was losing her husband and friend of 51 years in 2011. Jan was a loving mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by her family.

She is survived by her mother, Evelyn of Pine City, MN; her five children, Gregory (Debra) Thiry of Sun Prairie, WI, Denise (Mark) Ziperski of Hayward, WI, Lynnette (Dan) Phillips of Minong, WI, Drey (Sara) Thiry and Shane (Melissa) Thiry both of Hayward, WI; sixteen grandchildren: Dane Ziperski of San Diego, CA, Evan Ziperski and Ian Ziperski of Eau Claire, WI, Moriah and Joshua Thiry, both of Madison, WI, Nash Thiry of Orlando, Florida, Braxton Phillips of Eau Claire, WI, Hunter Phillips of Minong, WI, Lydia Phillips of Superior, WI, Shae Lynn, Shelby, Ayla, Iris and Wylder Thiry, all of Hayward, WI, Isabella and Isaiah Thiry of Hayward, WI and many dear friends.

Janet was preceded in death by her father, Clarence; and her beloved husband, Gerald.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 pm, Sunday June 2 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hayward, where a visitation will be held from noon until the hour of Mass. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. A lunch will be held at the church following the Mass.

Last Update: Apr 05, 2019 6:40 am CDT