COTTAGE GROVE - Janice E. Horstmeyer, age 86, of Cottage Grove, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. She was born on Aug. 13, 1937, in Evansville, Wis., the daughter of Fred and Famie (Elmer) Abey. Janice graduated from Evansville High School in 1958 and UW-Whitewater in 1976. She married Victor Horstmeyer on June 7, 1958, in Evansville.

Janice worked as a teacher and taught in Butts Corner, Evansville; Gaston School, Cottage Grove and then in the Monona Grove School District, grades 3 and 4, for 28 years, retiring in 1999 and continued to substitute teach until 2016.

Family and traditions were her passion. Her favorite times were when the family gathered for dinner parties and her grandsons visited and enjoyed ice cream treats and cookies. Janice relished time with her grandchildren. When they were young, she was often their taxi service. Later she enjoyed attending their high school sporting events, was involved with 4-H for 70 years and was a member and leader of Rock County 4-H. In Dane County 4-H, she was a leader, serving as the superintendent of the beef department and played an instrumental role in the meat animal sale since 1968. For fun, Janice enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling and teaching Sunday School. She and her husband Vic, played cards with the same group of friends for 56 years and eventually they became the “Cardless Club.”

Janice is survived by her sons, Douglas (Christine) Horstmeyer and David (Shannon) Horstmeyer; daughter, Heidi (Chad) Petersen; four grandsons, three step grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor; her parents; and brother, Harold Abey Sr.

A funeral service will be held at MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5202 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, with the Rev. Jeff Vanden Heuvel presiding. Burial will be held at Hope Cottage Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, and the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dane County Meat Animal Sale Scholarship Fund, Messiah Lutheran Church or Hope Cottage Grove Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Dr. Lynda Siewert, Forward Pharmacy in Cottage Grove, Heartland Hospice, and Claudia and Tom for all their wonderful care and support given to Janice and her family.

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

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

Janice E Horstmeyer

August 13, 1937 - August 03, 2024

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