Janet Phipps

Janet was born with her identical twin sister on April 16, 1937 in a farmhouse near Mulvane, KS to Carl and Olga (Czarnowsky) Lambky. She was born first, so she was referred to as the “older” sister.

Janet was raised in rural Cheney, KS on a wheat farm.

She was baptized, and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran church in Cheney, graduated in 1955 from Cheney High School and worked for Cessna Aircraft Co. in Wichita, KS.

On a blind date Janet met a young man named Albert Phipps. They married on August 4,1957 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Cheney. For more than 66 years they shared a loving and committed life together.

Prior to making their home in Peoria they lived in Wichita, KS, Denver, CO, Marietta, GA, St. Louis, MO, and Belle Plaine, KS. No matter where they called home, Janet was an active member of her church and community.

Each move and transition went smoothly for the family because Janet would quickly find a new church home, activities for their four girls, and make new friends. Her attitude was "there are nice people everywhere". If there wasn’t an opportunity, she created one like the time she opened a pre-school in Belle Plaine, KS for their youngest.

In 1975, they moved to Peoria, IL to open a Long John Silvers franchise, which later included A&W. Together they grew their AlJan, Inc. company for 32 years.

Janet regularly filled the home with piano music and song. There are fond memories of sing-a-longs around the family piano. She shared her musical gifts with others by accompanying instrumentalists, playing at senior living centers, and singing in church choirs.

She participated in Women of Redeemer, volunteered at The Church Mouse Thrift Shop and the Methodist Hospital Gift Shop in the baby clothes department.

Janet was very involved in her daughters' school activities, and continued this into the next generation, as she and Al attended many of her grandchildrens’ music, sports, and other activities. She and Al boast that they made it to every grandchild's high school graduation.

She enjoyed regular trips to Seattle WA to visit her twin sister, and built memories traveling with Al, especially after they retired in 2007.

Even during the past several years, when various health issues kept her closer to home, Janet enjoyed visits from her family and loved sharing a friendly greeting with everyone at Hillside Lutheran Village.

Surviving are her husband, Albert; twin sister, Janice (Allen) Brown of Seattle, WA; four daughters Carrie (Raymond) Harney of Rochester, MN, Angela (John) Burger of Adel, IA, Deborah (Jeffrey) Seyller of Peoria, Christy Arndt of Rochester, MN; eleven cherished grandchildren, Dana (Brent) Teske, Lisa (Patrick) Landson, Laura Harney (Eric Sollenberger), Kassidy (Shane) Johnson, Benjamin (Kristin) Harney, Janna Burger, Rachel (Ethan) Kesar, Megan Burger, Brandon Seyller, Stephanie Peterson, Grant Peterson; seven precious great-grandchildren, Amelia, Piper, Cedar, Calvin, Claire, Jayden, Lake; and eight treasured nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and sister-in-law Mary (Phipps) Wilkins.

A service will take place on Saturday December 16, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peoria. Visitation will be one hour prior at the church.

In honor of Janet’s volunteering spirit, in lieu of flowers, please support these local organizations: Methodist Service League, Redeemer Lutheran Church, or The Church Mouse Thrift Store.

A memory can be shared with the family at www.Davison-Fulton.com

Her life, rich in love, depth of faith, and outpouring of generosity and service will live on in all those who knew her.