Janet Williams

Janet Lavonne Williams, age 89 of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 16, 2026 at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

********Please note the date of the service********

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 8 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Inurnment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Janet LaVonne Williams was born October 12, 1936 in Hutchinson, Minnesota to Clarence and Alice (Elise Bakkom) Anderson. She graduated from Melrose High School. Jan moved to the twin cities and worked for the phone company. She was a switchboard operator and was promoted to a trainer. She later worked at Hancock Fabrics in Maplewood MN, retiring in 1993. She loved the staff and customers

While on one of Jan's visits home she met Will (Lawrence) Williams. They were married September 15, 1956 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in South Minneapolis until his passing in August of 2021. Will and Janet made their home in St. Paul. Will was a St. Paul Union Carpenter. He retired in 1993 and the couple moved to Melrose to their dream home off of Lake Sylvia (which Will built).

Jan enjoyed listening to music (especially Jazz and Country, but she often told her children and grandchildren about the latest artists) baking, gardening, canning and sewing. Her 9 grandchildren were all the apple of her eye and the joy of her life.

Janet leaves a legacy of love behind, she was so loving and accepting of the people around her. Her sense of humor was enjoyed by her family and friends until the end.

Survivors include her children, David Williams, Julie (Wayne) Borgstrom, Richard Williams, and Patricia (Mark) Pawelski; nine grandchildren, Amanda (Garret), Emily (Todd), Eric (Nikki), Sam, Jake (Kennedy), Hannah (Spencer), Lauren (Joey), Cameron, and Celeste; sisters-in-law Carole Anderson, Shirley Williams, Doreen Williams, Clara Williams many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence “Will” Williams on August 25, 2021, the love of her life. Her parents; brothers, Clarence Richard “Dick” and Allan “Al” Anderson; sister, Sharon Staley on March 19, 2023 and sister-in-law LaNita (Zinniel) Anderson.

Jan’s family would like to send a special thanks to Alternative Senior Care who helped her bring her dream of living in her home to fruition.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the charity of the donor’s choice.