Janet M. Mitzelfelt

Born August 20, 1938 in Peoria, she was the daughter of Cody and Margaret (Moffatt) Matheny. When Janet was 5 years old she lost her father by heart attack. Her mother married Thorolf (Bill) Schlesinger who was a wonderful stepfather. She married Dr. Donald Eugene Mitzelfelt, on July 1, 1956 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in East Peoria.

Surviving are her husband of Port Angeles; four children, Jeff (Ann) Mitzelfelt of Tremont, Dr. Donald (Heidi) Mitzelfelt of Peoria, Connie Mitzelfelt of Shelton, Washington and Debbie (Pastor Jay) Coon of Port Angeles; eleven grandchildren, Ben (Sarah) Mitzelfelt, Eddie (Michelle Dictor) Mitzelfelt, Cole (Abby) Mitzelfelt, Carly (Kamil) Drezek, Cody Mitzelfelt, Adam Stockman, Melissa Stockman, Morgan (Trevor) Snyders, Kymbre (Austin) Hummel, Michael Coon and Heather Coon; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Lucy Lobberecht of East Peoria; brother Alvin Matheny of Peoria.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Thomas Matheny, Dave Matheny, and Bill Schlesinger.

Janet graduated Nursing school in 1986 from St Joseph Missouri's Methodist Medical Center Nursing Program. Janet worked at St. Joseph's Methodist Medical Center until moving to Monument Valley, Utah where she worked at the Monument Valley Mission Hospital until 1989. She then worked at Loma Linda Medical Center until moving back to Illinois in 1993 and working in the Obstetrics Department at Pekin Hospital.

Janet and her husband helped establish a Medical and Evangelistic mission program in 2001 located in the Northern Philippines in the district of Pugudpud, Ilocus Norte. They continued that program until 2019 which has become a fully operational hospital and church in that region. The mission emphasis of the program lives on, providing opportunities for medical students coming there from the United States for from 2 week to 8 month medical mission trips. The mission is also sponsoring nursing and Medical school for students from the Philippines to get their medical education and work at the hospital helping to establish more opportunities for others wanting to pursue a medical career in the region.

Janet had a passion to serve, fellowship, and study. She spent much of her free time being part of women’s groups whether in Bible study groups or helping with mission outreach projects at her local churches. She still would help in church projects and sought to take part in whatever she could in the last few years of her life even though she was experiencing physical challenges due to strokes and dementia.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, November 18, 2022 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Jay Coon, her son-in-law, will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fon du Lac Township Cemetery in East Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to IHSAmission.com in honor of Janet Mitzelfelt, 20119 Northeast 272nd Street, Battle Ground, Washington 98604.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com