Janet "Jan" (Krantz) Hayes

MADISON - Janet L. “Jan” Hayes, age 76, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2024, at Four Winds Manor in Verona, Wis. She was born in Madison, Wis., on September 15, 1948, to Leo and Valeria (Laufenberg) Krantz, the oldest of three girls.

Jan married the love of her life, Todd Hayes, on December 2, 1967, and they settled into a beautiful home in Madison, where they raised their family. Jan was calm and quiet, yet a social butterfly. While she did not like the spotlight, she adored and cherished the people in her life. Whether it was the daily conversations she enjoyed in the early years working at Sentry Foods, the ear she lent in car rides as she drove her children and their friends around Madison in the 90's, helping with the Cub/Boy Scouts, or the close friendships formed in her later years as an Administrative Assistant in the Madison School District, Jan loved people. She also valued giving back to her community, volunteering countless hours ushering at the Madison Civic Center, proctoring for SAT/ACT exams, serving as an election judge and possibly her most favorite was driving the train at Vilas Zoo.

When she wasn't volunteering, she was either on a bike ride to State Street for a slice of Ian's pizza, working on her garden, baking something delicious for her family or enjoying a good book. In earlier years, you would find Jan dancing at the Dry Bean or planning their next cruise vacation. But her greatest joys were her husband of 56 years, Todd, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jan is survived by her loving husband, Todd; daughter, Tamara Markgraf of Friendship, Wis.; son, Eric (Molly) Hayes of Eden Prairie, Minn.; son-in-law, Jason Markgraf; grandchildren, Alexi (Markgraf), Kelsi (Ben Nevarez), and Finnegan, Elena and Hadley Hayes; and three great-grandchildren, Vivianna, Benny and Rosalie (Nevarez); sisters, Sharon (Gerl) and Kathy (Dr. Bill Clancy); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother-in-law, John Gerl.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Pine Bluff. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday.  

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

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761