Janet Karren Hodge

Madison - Janet Karren Hodge, age 81, of Madison, passed away on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Nazareth Health and Rehab. She was born on the family farm in Richland County, Wis., on July 20, 1941, the daughter of Melvin Craig and Lavina (Hoffman) Craig Grindeman.

Janet grew up in Richland Center and graduated from Richland Center High School with the class of 1959. She worked for a time at both the Teamsters Union and Upper Great Lakes, and then worked for many years managing the Human Resources Department at the Mental Health Center of Dane County.

In her free time, Janet enjoyed traveling, boating, playing cards, music and dancing (Especially dancing!!). Janet had a true passion for people and loved pretty much anything that meant spending time with old friends and making new ones. If she didn’t know you when she entered the room, she would no doubt know you when she left. She found great joy personally in creating beautiful scrapbooks for family

members and professionally in establishing relationships and helping staff in her work with human resources. She had a gift for making people feel special. Her love for life and the people in it was contagious. She will be missed by many.

Janet is survived by her sons, Brian (Dan Chapman) Hodge and Chris Swenson; brother, Vilas Craig; brothers-in-law, Gary (Deb) Swenson, Randy Swenson and Kenneth Landphier: step-brother, Dave (Phyllis) Sailing; along with many nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends, especially these special friends who truly helped her in so many ways, Greg Wagner, Linda Kastein Puls, Nancy O'Brien and Diane Kallas.   She was preceded in death by her husband, John "Jack" Kendall Swenson; son, Brent Swenson; father, Melvin Craig; mother, Lavina Craig Grindeman; and step-father, Roy Grindeman, and sisters-in-law, Kathleen Landphier and Mary Swenson.

A memorial service will be held at Gunderson East Funeral AND Cremation Care, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. A celebration of life will continue at Buck & Honey's Restaurant, 804 Liberty Blvd., Sun Prairie, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Memorials may be made to AASLD Foundation or American Family Children’s Hospital.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420