Janet Vern Wilson, age 80 of Coon Rapids passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

Janet Gustafson was born on December 4, 1937 in Minneapolis, MN to Ernest and LeVerna Gustafson.  The family moved to Ortonville, MN in 1949, and she graduated from OHS in 1955. She married Thomas Wilson from Clinton, MN on December 11, 1955. Together they had four children:  Mark, Cathy, Greg, and John.

Tom and Janet moved frequently throughout their marriage, living in Minnesota, Georgia, Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, and North Dakota, before finally settling back in Minnesota. Janet worked mostly in student loans collections at Universities across the US including the U of M Morris, the U of M Minneapolis, and at St. Paul's School of Theology in Kansas City, MO, where Tom was a student.

In 1985, Tom and Janet started their ministry career with the United Methodist Church serving the following:  Pattonsburg/Civil Bend/Heath in MO; Raymond/Rosewood, MN; Thief River Falls, MN; and Buffalo Lake, MN. They retired after serving in Dexter/Grand Meadow, MN.

Janet took great pride in her family, enjoyed reading, collecting porcelain dolls, collecting bells, and playing organ and piano. She served as church organist for many years.

In addition to her parents, Ernest and LeVerna, Janet was preceded in death by a brother, James, who was killed in Vietnam.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Tom; son, Mark (Pam) Wilson of Coon Rapids, MN; daughter, Cathy (Byrum) Cartwright of Minneapolis, MN; son, Greg (Rita) Wilson of North St. Paul, MN; and son, John (Shelli) Wilson of Cottage Grove, MN.  She had twelve grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, all who loved her very dearly.

A Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 2 , 2018 at Thurston-DeShaw Funeral Home, 13817 Jay Street NW, Andover.  Graveside Service 12 Noon on Friday, April 6 , 2018 at Mound Cemetery, Ortonville, MN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the National Military Family Association, www.militaryfamily.org/

Arrangements entrusted to Thurston-DeShaw Funeral Home of Andover (763) 767-7373