FITCHBURG - Janice Elaine Love, 78, of Fitchburg, Wis., passed away on Jan. 26, 2024, at Agrace Hospice with her husband, Dale, and son, Matthew, by her side. In her final weeks, she was surrounded by many family and friends who loved her.

Jan was born on Aug. 8, 1945, to Raymond and Beulah (nee Stotts) Murken of Boone, Iowa. She grew up on the farm as the youngest of five kids. After graduating high school, she went on to study at Boone Junior College and then Iowa State University. It was there that she met her husband, Dale. They eventually put down roots in Wisconsin with their three wonderful children, still making frequent trips to Iowa for family visits. Jan’s faith was important to her. The family joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Madison, where she remained a faithful member of the congregation for many years.

Jan was such a loving and proud mother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved to cook and eat with her family. She would try new recipes but always continued to make her old favorites. It was a long list so she would frequently ask her kids for recommendations, which usually only made the list a little shorter.

Both her immediate and extended families were an important part of her life. Staying in touch with her siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews and dear friends brought her so much joy. She liked to talk about baseball, and the weather, and generally keep up with what everyone was doing. She rarely missed a celebration and was almost always willing to travel for one. If you invited her to a wedding, no matter how far away, you better believe she would be there early so she could get a good spot.

Jan loved the outdoors. Growing up on a farm instilled an appreciation for nature and animals. She always kept a garden (even though she kept saying she wouldn’t the last few years). She took pride in her flower beds and enjoyed walking around the yard to talk about what garden tasks were up next and what she might like to plant in open spots.

Traveling and seeing the wonders of the natural world was another favorite pastime. She would vacation to visit her kids when they were in Houston and Colorado, her brother when he was in Arizona, and friends on the beach in Florida. She loved to travel with Dale and together they went on trips. Hiking at Pictured Rock National Lakeshore, Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Sedona Desert, and the Smokey Mountains. She went sailing in the Apostle Islands and explored so many more places. Near to her heart was Ledges State Park back home in Iowa.

Jan will be remembered for her beautiful singing voice. She never missed an opportunity to sing with her family and friends in church or other gatherings. She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched. We rest in assurance that she is now welcomed by all of the loved ones who passed before her.

Jan is survived by her loving husband, Dale; children, Kimberly (Jake), Matthew and Nicholas (Emily); siblings, Lois and Mel; and many nieces, nephews and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Ken and Daryl; and brother-in-law, Bob.

A memorial service will be held at GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5701 Raymond Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVE STREAM may visit Jan’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at 11 a.m. on Friday. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

The family would appreciate flowers to be ordered through Wood Violet Floral Design (woodvioletmke.com/jan).

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002

Janice E. "Jan" Love

August 08, 1945 - January 26, 2024

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