Janice E. Stephens

Janice E. Stephens, a long-time resident of Grafton, Wis., passed away on March 30, 2026.

She was born at Milwaukee General Hospital on Feb. 10, 1936, to Celia and Clarence Hintz. Janice attended Phillips Grade School and graduated Rufus King High School before attending Downer College.

Jan married Harold in 1954. They enjoyed traveling with friends and camping and boating in the summers.

Jan worked for Allen Bradley Rockwell Automation. She was a supervisor and even assisted in the wiring of the Apollo 11 Command and Service Module. She loved her job and retired after 22 years of service to the company.

After her retirement, she became the owner of two bed and breakfast inns in Port Washington and West Bend. Mayer-Pick House was later marked for preservation in West Bend. After being an inn owner, Jan decided to become a realtor and sold many homes in and around the Grafton area.

Jan’s passions were music, piano playing and teaching in her younger years, real estate, traveling, sheep shearing, fiber spinning and knitting. Jan traveled the world by plane, ship, railway and even bus at times. Her travels included over 14 countries worldwide as well as the West Coast, East Coast, the South and her stateside favorite, Alaska, three times. Her favorite travel was in Iceland due to the beauty, simple lifestyle, people and wonderful fiber for knitting.

Jan was preceded in death by Harold, her husband; twins Chris and Cathy; Timothy, her eldest son; Byron, a younger brother; Sandra Bruce, her younger sister; and parents.

She is survived by Todd (Maria)Stephens, Tracy Pata and Joan (Timothy) Stephens. She was blessed with 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Jenna (Andy) Klumb, Jacob, Megan White, (Andrew) Lena, Michelle Kim (Howard), Nicole Urban (Julius) Cullen, Jennifer Stephens-Voigt, Hunter Musar, Blake Stephens (Ashley), Justin and Jordan Gitlin, Rylan, Lindy Nissen (Kay), Rose and Quinn and Zachary Pata.

A private burial will be held at Zur Ruhe Cemetery.