Nov. 7, 1941 – Nov. 28, 2024
Janet Woehrmann Evers, of Sturgeon Bay, and formerly of Harbor Springs, Michigan, passed away at home surrounded by family in the early hours of Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 2024. It was Jan’s desire to write her own life summary to share when she passed, so according to her wishes, it follows here:
Well, I turned 83, and people will say, “she lived a good, long life.” And I did.
I was born in Poland, Ohio on Nov. 7, 1941. I attended North Lima Schools for all twelve years, going on to Baldwin Wallace University for college and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music education. There, I also met my future husband, Tom Woehrmann.
After teaching instrumental music for several years in the Detroit area, my kids Matt (now 53) and Jill (now 49) were born in Royal Oak, Michigan, where we lived until 1976. At that point, we decided to get out of the city and moved the family to a small town in northern Michigan, Harbor Springs, where we made our home for 24 years.
During those years, in addition to being a devoted mom to my kids and wife to my husband as he built and ran his piano tuning business, I founded a clothing consignment store, A Penny Saved, in 1981 with two dear friends. I’m proud to say it still lives on as a thriving business in Petoskey, Michigan today. Building on my musical background, I also taught a number of piano students over time, at one point growing my private lesson roster to over 50 students. We were members of the Petoskey United Methodist Church, where I sang in the choir. Tom and I frequently participated in local musical productions, and I was happy to be a founding member of the Northern Michigan Chorale.
Tom, sadly, died of cancer in 1995, and five years later, I moved to Door County. I lived in the Sturgeon Bay area for 24 years. There, I made many wonderful friends who continued to surround me with love and support my entire life. I enjoyed the outdoors, the arts, and the small, tight-knit community that is so special. I loved to work out and take classes at our amazing YMCA, gave my time as a volunteer coordinator for Loaves and Fishes for many years, and served at the Door County Food Pantry for a few more. It was rewarding to give back to a community that had been so welcoming to me by helping people in need.
My parents Robert and Helen Thornton, my brother Alan Thornton, and my husband Tom Woehrmann passed before me. I have left behind my daughter Jill Woehrmann (Adam Cohn) and two grandchildren, Levon (16) and Josie (14); and my son Matt Woehrmann (Jill Stanley) and two step-grandchildren Jackson and Mae (both 13); my sister-in-law Arlene Thornton and her kids, niece Kira Sullivan and nephew Eric Thornton and their families; and my close friend and neighbor Gene Jacobs, with whom I was blessed to have a special friendship for the past several years.
My family will be planning a celebration of my life in the new year in Sturgeon Bay.
In the meantime, if you would like to help leave a legacy in a way that would be truly meaningful to me, I have asked my family to match donations up to $10,000 to the Door County Food Pantry where I served, making it possible for us to provide $20,000 in support for folks in need in my community.
Please donate at www.lakeshorecap.org/donate/ and please make sure to designate the “Jan Woehrmann Evers Memory Fund.” Or if you prefer to mail a check, you can send it to Lakeshore CAP, P.O. Box 2315, Manitowoc, WI 54221. Again, don’t forget to designate the fund name so we can match your contribution. Forbes Funeral Home is assisting the family.
