Janet M. Groelz

Janet Marie Groelz, age 62, formerly of O'Neill and Phillips, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Graveside services were held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the Phillips Cemetery in Phillips directly off Highway 34 with Cory Maughan officiating. 

A luncheon was provided by the Methodist Church women following at the United Methodist Church in Phillips.

Higby-McQuiston Mortuary of Aurora, was in charge of arrangements.

Janet was born on April 5, 1949, the eldest daughter of Byron and Jeanie (Carter) Groelz in Aurora.

She grew up in Giltner and Phillips. She graduated from Phillips High School and went on to attend BYU in Provo, Utah. 

Janet worked in childcare, as a housekeeper and a laborer in a tile production plant in Grand Island. For a short time she made wedding cakes. Janet was also a caregiver to John Ernstmeier. She worked for nearly 13 years as a flagger on a road construction crew for Werner Construction of Hastings. She lived where the crew worked on job sites in Nebraska and Kansas. Janet's favorite place was O'Neill.

She was active in the O'Neill branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She also enjoyed 4-H, spinning wool, knitting, horses, dog rescue and storytelling.

Those left to cherish her memory are her four brothers: Phillip (Barbara) Groelz of Canby, OR, Jay (Linda) Groelz of Phillips, Ross (Doris) Groelz of South Lake Tahoe, CA, and Ned (Brenda) Groelz of Syracuse, Utah; one sister, Jean Groelz of Kalispell, MT, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, paternal grandparents, William and Jessie Carter; and maternal grandparents, Philip and Jessie Carter.

Condolences may be emailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.coml.