Obituary: Janet Lydia Mickelson

March 18, 1939 ~ November 30, 2021

Janet Lydia Mickelson, 82, of Sturgeon Bay, died early Tuesday morning, November 30, 2021 at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.

She was born March 18, 1939 in Sturgeon Bay, the daughter of Edward and Marian Irene (Stephenson) Bavry. Jan grew up on the family farm just north of Carlsville in the Town of Egg Harbor and attended Calvary United Methodist Church in Egg Harbor. She attended Sevastopol High School through her junior year and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School with the class of 1957. Jan went on to study bookkeeping for a year at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College in Sturgeon Bay. She initially worked for a couple of places in Milwaukee, one of which was a newspaper. While working as a housekeeper for Dr. John “Jack” Tong, DDS she met Gerald “Jerry” Kohlstad Mickelson who was working for Esquire Cleaners. They were united in marriage on November 17, 1962 by Pastor Myron Medin at Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.

Jan and Jerry resided in Janesville (where Jerry went to work) and upon their return home to Door County, Jan commuted to Green Bay for work via the Lincoln Bayview Bus Line and then worked for the (former) Donna Theatre downtown Sturgeon Bay. She and Jerry were blessed with two sons: Neil and Bryce. Jan cared for them at home and eventually worked as a food server at Sunset School in Sturgeon Bay for a short time while Neil and Bryce attended school there. As her health began to decline, she moved into Whispering Pines CBRF and ultimately Sturgeon Bay Health Services after a sudden fall.

Jan enjoyed tending to her flowers in her garden and watching television. She liked riding with Jerry on his motorcycle and visited Mt. Rushmore and Hill City, both in South Dakota and the Old Lady on the Mountain in Wausau, just to name a few places. Together, they belonged to the Badgerland Voyagers and American Voyagers Motorcycle Clubs. Jan had a 1952 Hudson Hornet that she was especially fond of.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, Jerry, with whom she shared over 59 years of marriage; two sons, Neil (Anita) Mickelson of Milan, IL and Bryce (Gwen) Mickelson of Sealy; two grandchildren, Aaron and Anna Mickelson, brother and sister, Alan “Al” (Elizabeth “Ann”) Bavry of Sarasota, FL and Ruth Ann Schreiber of Sturgeon Bay; sister-in-law, Bonnie Jean (Daniel “Mike” McLean of Sturgeon Bay; other relatives; and friends.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents.

Arrangements pending for her life to be honored with a private memorial service at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay.

Jan will be laid to rest near family in Bayside Cemetery in the Town of Sevastopol.

Memorials may be given in Janet’s name for the Epilepsy Foundation (www.epilepsy.com).

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Jan may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.