Janet Louise Poeschl

Janet Poeschl left this earth to sing in Heaven’s choir on Thursday January 30th, 2025 at New Richland Care Center. She was 75 years old. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Bonnerup Funeral and Cremation Service, Albert Lea, from 4-6-PM and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. The celebration of life will be at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove on February 7, 2025 at 10 AM. Janet was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, who lived life with a passion for the Lord, and was known for singing, her selfless service to others, and was deeply loved by her family and those that knew her.

She was preceded in death by her brother Frank Olsen, her father Kenneth R. Olsen, her mother Laura Louise (Schimpf) Olsen, and her grandchildren Jacob and Michaela Poeschl. She is survived by her forever husband Steven Poeschl, her children Rita (Kyle) Iverson, Tim (Liz) Poeschl, Tom (Natasha) Poeschl, Scott (Emily) Poeschl, her brother J.C. (Janet) Olsen, and niece and nephew Jamie Olsen Avenall and Shad Olsen, as well as her nine grandchildren.

 While Janet Louise (Olsen) Poeschl was born in Gainesville, Florida on March 31, 1949, she spent her childhood in Duluth, MN. She grew up enjoying the lake life and spent her time water skiing, swimming and boating. She also enjoyed singing barbershop with her family and folk songs with her brothers Frank and J.C. Olsen. 

Janet graduated from Duluth East High School in 1967 and moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology. While attending the University of Minnesota she met the love of her life Steven Poeschl who was attending the University of Minnesota’s Dental School. In 1970, shortly before graduating from Dental School, Steven proposed to Janet in her mother’s living room in her house located on the hill in Duluth, on the corner of 21st Avenue East and Superior Street. Steven and Janet married on June 19, 1971.

 While in dental school Steven was involved in the Rural Dentistry Program, which provided the newly married couple the opportunity to meet with community leaders from the town of Alden, MN. When they visited Alden, they immediately fell in love with the town, people and culture and knew that this was where they would spend the rest of their lives and raise a family. Steven and Janet developed a plan to live and practice in Alden and eventually purchased land and built the Alden Dental Clinic. 

If you knew Janet, it was likely through church or through one of the organizations in which she volunteered, and it was very likely that she had a guitar strapped on and was singing. As their children grew, Janet saw a need for volunteering and was involved in the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and 4H. She spent many years as a dedicated Sunday School teacher, and Vacation Bible School and Awana teacher. 

Janet started with the Alden Preschool as the song leader and then took on the role of Administrator and Song Leader. She enjoyed getting the curriculum ready, purchasing supplies, lining up programs, and keeping the budget affordable for the parents. When the kindergartners started going to school every other day, Janet set up the school so that there would be preschool on the days when the students were home. She ran the program for eight years until the Alden School District developed an ECFE program. 

Janet was a Charter Member of the Alden Morin Lake Days Committee. She started the Alden Fun Run program and organized and facilitated that race for 29 years. 

In 2000, Janet continued to follow her passion and received her teaching license. She found a new joy serving as a substitute teacher in area schools as a music and special education teacher. She taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays when she was not needed at the dental clinic. For 20 years, Janet enjoyed teaching and interacting with the students and would often say about the students “they were delightful.” 

Janet had the privilege of having “forever friends” who she has known for a lifetime and was often the event planner for the many activities and the numerous trips they went on together. They were a major and important part of her life and Janet wants you to know she loves you and will see you again. 

One of the activities they enjoyed doing together was going to Camp Lebanon. Janet also got involved with Camp Lebanon’s women’s retreat and after many years joined the Praise Team and used sign language to sign the songs that were being sung. This was a very rewarding experience for Janet. 

Janet is survived by her nine grandchildren, Theadora (fiancé, Phillip Trenne) Iverson, Simon Iverson, Hannah Poeschl, Caleb Poeschl, Isaac Poeschl, Calvin Poeschl, Kara Poeschl, Lara Poeschl, and Milianna Poeschl. Her grandchildren hold a special place in her heart and made her jump for joy. She spent tireless hours sewing gifts for them, and poured so much love into her sewing, even as her eyesight failed, and they will cherish these gifts long after she is gone. She loved singing with them, celebrating their birthdays and holidays, rocking them to sleep and singing “by low” lullabies, and dancing around the house. Janet lived life to the fullest and loved her family with all her heart. Her family and friends are profoundly sad and Janet will be deeply missed, but we know she is no longer suffering and is singing, playing the guitar and dancing in Heaven.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Baptist Church, Clarks Grove, MN or Mayo Clinic. 

Heaven gained another alto.