James Stanley Janowiak, MD, 82, of Merrill, died Monday, March 10, 2014 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau.
He was born April 14, 1931 in Manistee, MI, son of Stanley F. and Monica C. (Gorley) Janowiak. He attended school in Manistee and graduated from high school in 1949. He continued his education at Michigan State for one year and enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country during the Korean War.
On June 27, 1959 he was united in marriage to Barbara Berke in Gary, IN. After his discharge he attended Marquette University where he furthered his education to complete his medical degree, graduating in 1961. He served his internship in Duluth, MN and in 1962 they moved to Waterville, WA where he served as a family practice physician. They then moved to Merrill, where he joined Ole Ravn in the Family Medical Clinic until his retirement in 1996.
Dr. Janowiak enjoyed spending time with his family, woodworking, baking, road trips, reading and teaching future doctors and EMT’s medicine. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the Merrill American Legion and VFW. He served 14 years as Lincoln County Coroner and served on the HAVEN Board of Directors.
He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Barbara of Merrill; six sons, Dr. Luke (Lisa) Janowiak of Odenton, MD, Mark (Suzi) Janowiak of New Glarus, WI, Matthew (Madeleine) Janowiak of Durango, CO, Stanley (Dr. Gabi) Janowiak of Merrill, Tom Janowiak of Pulaski, WI and Steve (Cheryl) Janowiak of Wisconsin Rapids; one daughter, Dr. Mary (Mike) Wendel of Boise, ID; four sisters, Sister Mary Lou Janowiak of Grand Rapids, MI, Julie (Don) VeCasey of St. Johns, MI, Linda (Fred) Gauthier and Kathie (Bob) Reidy, both of Traverse City, MI; 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Memorial mass will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2014 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Merrill with burial in the Merrill Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to HAVEN (Household Abuse Victim’s Emergency Network), PO Box 32, Merrill, WI 54452, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School or another local charity.
Online condolences may be left at www.waidfuneral.com.