Janet L. DeWildt

Janet L. DeWildt, age 90, passed away very peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2026 surrounded by her loving family and close friends. Jan was born on April 25, 1935. She was born and raised in Detroit, the beloved daughter of Arthur and Vendla Peterson, with her older sister and best friend, Marion. Her father worked at GM, and they lived in the Detroit area until her teenage years, when her family bought a motel in Petoskey and relocated there. After Jan finished high school in Petoskey, she moved to Grand Rapids with her best friend Allene, and went to the business school at Davenport College. It was in Grand Rapids where she met her husband Donald DeWildt and they were married in 1955 for 25 years. They had four children together and lived in the Chicago area, then Indiana, then Ohio, then back to Michigan in Greenville, Union Lake, and Alma. With great advice from her sister Marion and welcoming support and love from her cousin, June Brammer, Jan moved to Traverse City in 1978 with her two daughters. She began a new life and career in real estate with many thanks to Kathy Henschell for suggesting the idea and providing encouragement and support. Jan quickly fell in love with real estate and began to thrive. She worked for Century 21, Real Estate One, and Rupp & Keen. She was highly respected and loved by her many friends, clients, and peers along the way. If you knew Jan, you would know her true calling was being a wonderful and devoted mother and grandmother. She adored her four children, their spouses and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jan’s spirit will live on in our memories with her beautiful smile, fun loving laugh, uplifting spirit, positivity, generosity, warm heart and strong faith. She also adored her little Molly, her loyal miniature puppy who never left her side. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Vendla Peterson, sister and brother-in-law Marion and George Schulz, and cousin and dear friend June Brammer. She is survived by her children John (Marcie) DeWildt, Paul (Regina) DeWildt, Sharon (Rick) Carmean, and Karen (Dave) Ingle. She is also survived by her grandchildren Drew Carmean & Paulina Rivera, Charlie (Ashlyn) DeWildt, Julie (Nate) Hollern, Paul Ingle & Macie Attea and Peggy Priest. She will also be dearly missed by her great grandchildren Daisy, Jemma, Henry and Harvey. Jan treasured her friends Jacque Keen and Kathy Henschel, and her extended families including the Brammer and Schulz families, the Plums and many others who will always be remembered for their friendship and fun times. A very special thanks to her kind, dedicated, and amazing nurse, Jen from Munson Hospice, and all of the caring staff at Traverse Manor. Her family wishes all who miss her to remember her kindness and her smile. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St. Traverse City, MI. Family will welcome visitors an hour prior to the service from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Inurnment will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given in Jan's honor to the Cherryland Humane Society.

Janet L. DeWildt

April 25, 1935 - March 22, 2026