Janet Walker

Janet K. Walker, age 82, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Janet was born on October 30, 1942, in Winnebago, MN, to Earl Pierce and Florence Nowak Pierce. She grew up in Winnebago and was a 1960 graduate of Winnebago High School. She met a young man on a blind date and it went so well that he showed up on her doorstep the very next day and they both knew it was a “match made in heaven”. She and Francis L. Walker were married on November 17, 1962, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Winnebago. They moved to Minneapolis where Janet was employed first with Bell Telephone Company, then entered the banking world with jobs at First Western Bank and finally TCF Bank. After retirement in 2004, they moved to New Prague.

Janet had a spunk to her character but was generally easy going and always loving and caring. Her family was the center of her life and they all knew her for the meals and baked goods she provided with her love of cooking and baking. Flowerpots graced her home and were lovingly attended to. She enjoyed a good game of Mahjong or dominoes and in her more recent years, dabbled in quilting with her daughter. She will be remembered as a dedicated attendee of Silver Sneakers, starting when she moved to New Prague and faithful until just the last few months. Cosmic Bingo at Mystic Lake was a tradition at Thanksgiving and Christmas and a much-anticipated tradition was the family cookie baking for Christmas that took place at her daughter’s home in Iowa.

Janet is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Francis; children, Theresa (Doug) Johnston of Grimes, IA, Thomas (Sophia) Walker of Hudson, FL, Stephen Walker of New Prague; grandchildren, Matthew (Melissa) Johnston, Ashley (John) Shaw, Danielle Johnston, Andrew Walker, Aubrey Walker (& fiancé, Joe), Kacie (Connor) Frank, Madi Walker, Andrew Walker, Jack Walker, Lindsey Walker; 3 great-grandchildren; sisters, Rosella (Loren) Miller of Hudson, WI and Marian (Jim) Boesch of Montgomery. She is preceded in death by her mother; nephew, David Boesch.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Joseph Gifford officiating. Visitation will take place at church 1 hour before Mass from 10-11 AM. Mass will be live-streamed on npcatholic.org. Lunch will follow Mass at the New Prague Golf Club. Burial will occur later that afternoon at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Winnebago.