Janet Elam

Janet Irene Elam was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 24, 1938. She was the fourth child of John and Juanita (Scolfield) Katsma. While John worked construction, Juanita remained at home to care for the family that grew to include eight children. Along with Shirley, Dorothy, John, Linda, Roger, Robert and Cynthia, Janet grew up in the Burton Heights neighborhood and attended South High School. Being the middle daughter, Janet did her share of chores - cleaning and cooking - as well as help with the younger children. She was busy outside the home as well, working as a car hop on roller skates at Big Boys and In-We-Go restaurants. It was the days of "cruising" on South Division, and Janet joined the throngs on weekend nights to check out other kids and their cars. For a less urban experience, Janet often visited her aunt Dorothy and Uncle Percy's farm in Hesperia. As it happened one day, Janet watched chickens being slaughtered. Not surprisingly, she never ate chicken again.

Janet met and married Clarence Elam in September of 1957 while he was serving in the Army. They first lived on base in Newport News, Virginia. When he was transferred to Greenland, Janet returned to Grand Rapid. Once discharged, Clarence and Janet moved between several apartments and houses on the south side of Grand Rapids and Wyoming. She landed a job at an auto parts manufacturing company, Alof's Manufacturing, for the next 38 years before retiring in 1990. Janet was so dedicated to work that she only took off a few weeks after the birth of each of her children: Alan born 9-26-58, Elizabeth born 10-28-59, Julia born 2-28-61, Ron born 5-6-62, and David born 10-8-69. They all attended North Godwin Elementary, Godwin Middle School and Godwin High School. Then in 1974, Janet and Clarence divorced as a consequence of their irreconcilable differences. However, Janet and the kids remained close to her family, and they visited aunts and uncles regularly. As a family, they continued one of Janet's favorite pastimes - going to Lake Michigan beaches, especially Tunnel Park. She always enjoyed attending her grandchildrens sporting events.

Janet loved her family and gave them her best. She made great meals and baked delicious goodies, whether on special occasions or every day. Janet gave gifts of her knitting and crocheting skills: sweaters, scarves, mittens and blankets. For recreation, Janet bowled and played Dominos, and at home she enjoyed doing word search puzzles, reading a good romance novel or the National Enquirer, and checking her daily horoscope. She was also entertained by all the traffic that went by her 2158 South Division home and talking to her neighbors in the area. Understandably, she was reluctant to move to Breton Village Greens in 2000. Still, she was very grateful for the daily visits from her son Ron, and she always loved the company of her children and grandchildren.

Janet's beloved family attended to her through bouts of illness over the years and in recent days when she experienced chest pains. Once at Metropolitan Hospital, she suffered complications and was transferred to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. Problems developed that could not be averted, and Janet died near midnight on Monday evening with her family by her side.

Mrs. Janet I. Elam aged 68 of Grand Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday January 30, 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Juanita Katsma in 1989 and her sister, Linda Adamy. She is survived by her children, Alan (Julie) Elam, Elizabeth (Ron) Stark, Julia (Matt) Klekotka, Ronald Elam, David (Tammy) Elam; 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; her sisters and brothers, Shirley Horton, Dorothy (Bob) Kluiter, John (Judy) Katsma, Roger (Betty) Katsma, Robert (Pat) Katsma, Cynthia Snyder; her brother-in-law, Frank Adamy; many nieces, nephews and friends. A service to celebrate Janet's life will be held at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van't Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard St. NW on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Friday from 11:00 am until the service begins at 1:00 p.m.