Janice G. (Hoffman) Jirasek

Janice G. Jirasek, 88, of Willmar, died Monday, July 14th at CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.  Her funeral will be 3:00 pm, Sunday, July 20th at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar with visitation one hour prior to the service.  www.hafh.org

Janice was born on August 31, 1936, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Benjamin and Jennie (Ritz) Hoffman. She grew up in Roseland, attended country school, and graduated from Danube High School.

In May of 1954, she married Howard Vigen, and they made their home in Willmar, where Janice worked as a waitress at local restaurants. On December 5, 1964, she was united in marriage to Joseph Jirasek in Sioux Falls. They lived in Willmar, where Janice worked at John’s Supper Club, Eastgate, and later at Willmar Poultry, where she remained until her retirement in 1998.

Janice had a zest for life. She enjoyed camping, music festivals, flower gardening, and line dancing. She was always on the move and proudly said, “There was never no grass growing under my feet!” Fondly known as “Ma” by her children’s friends, her home was always open—her deck a favorite gathering spot for visits and refreshments.

Family was everything to Janice. She never missed her son Jay’s hockey games—home or away or following Shannon across the country watching her snocross snowmobile racing—and cherished time spent with neighbors, especially while cheering on the Vikings.

She is survived by her children: Shannon Groothuis of Clara City, Jay (Caralee Mader) Jirasek of Willmar, and Vickie (Jim Randall) Tompt of Kerkhoven; her beloved grandchildren, Jada, Kylee  and Malachi; and her four-legged companion, Zach.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Bonnie.

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