Janet Genord

Janet was born on April 11, 1933, the daughter of the late Leonard and Myrtle (Renstrom) Klippel. She was a lifelong Ishpeming resident prior to moving to Iron Mountain to live with her daughters after suffering a stroke in 2018. She graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1951 and then attended Gale University in Minnesota.

She worked in Chicago as a teletype operator for the Santa Fe Railroad for a few years before returning to Ishpeming to marry and start a family with the love of her life, Samuel Genord. She was a devoted and loving wife, caring for Sam for many years through several illnesses until his passing in 2008.

Janet was a woman of deep and unwavering faith. She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, where she had actively served through missions, the United Methodist Women and the pasty-making crew. After supporting missions for many years at Wesley, she finally went on her first mission trip to Kenya at the young age of 80. Janet also volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul for many years.

Janet enjoyed spending summers at their family camp on Farmer Lake, picking blueberries, baking and spending time with her family. She was known for her generous spirit. She blessed many through her personal greeting card ministry, spending hours writing and mailing notes of celebration, encouragement and sympathy and found great joy in helping and encouraging others.

Janet is survived by her daughters, Lauri (Roger) Kulju of Iron Mountain, Amanda Pope of Ishpeming and Joyce Genord of Iron Mountain; grandchildren Samuel (Emily) Genord, Marc (Rylee) Sorrell, DJ (Lindsey) Jain, Tony (Megan) Pope, Steven (Mae Richter) Pope, Michael (Lindsay Waters) Kulju, Nicole (Travis) Barlock; a daughter-in-heart, Barb (Jon) Palomaki; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and countless beloved friends and family.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law Jerry Pope; sisters Juanita Klippel, Irene Mercer, Patricia Hughes, Fern Bertucci and Myrtle Tasson; and sisters- and brothers-in-law Nathan Mercer, Eugene Hughes, William Bertucci, Lloyd Tasson, Shirley and Paul Turino, Pauline and August Baggiore, Marguerite and Bernard Luokkala and Marjorie and Benjamin Ogea.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 19, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Ishpeming, with the Rev. Scott Sherrill officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at noon. A luncheon will be served in the church hall following the service. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Janet’s service may be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@IshpemingWUMC.

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider making contributions to Wesley United Methodist Church or Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice in Janet’s memory.

Janet’s daughters wish to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at MCMCF and Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice for the compassion and care shown to our mom.

Janet’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com, where relatives and friends are invited to leave a note of remembrance.