Janiece Fischer
Janiece Maxine Colvin was born Aug. 4, 1930 to Alverda and Emmett Colvin and died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by loving family on Nov. 13, 2023. There was a lot of living in between.
Janiece grew up during the Depression. Her father was a dairy farmer and mother was a teacher. Their family had very little financially, but were rich with love. Janiece began her education in a one room country school and graduated from Stratford High School. In 1948 she started at the Stevens Point Teachers College where she met Donald Hendrick and began a 40-year relationship.
After Don finished college, he took a job in Grand Marais, Mich. Don and Janiece were married June 14, 1952 at the Catholic church in Grand Marais and she became Janiece Hendrick. On July 14, 1953 they had their first child, John. After three years in Grand Marais, Don got a job at the junior high school in Tomahawk. In between having three more children (Kevin, Mary and Ann), Janiece taught at the Bradley, Hiawatha, and Whittier schools until 1960. In 1964, they had a fifth child, Lois. Janiece continued to teach elementary school in Tomahawk. The family traveled many places in the United States, often for Don’s educational pursuits. This likely sparked Janiece’s keen interest in continued travels throughout her long life. Winters were spent in Tomahawk snowmobiling and summers at their land on Somo Lake.
When Don Hendrick died unexpectedly in 1986 at the age of 58, it was a terrible shock. With the support of her friends, family and church, Janiece carried on. Janiece lived her life to the fullest in the years that followed. She completed her master’s degree in education, and continued teaching until 1991, when she retired after 35 years in the classroom. She was very active in the Methodist church in Tomahawk, and lived a life rich in service. She became active in many educational organizations, serving on boards and committees for Central Wisconsin Educators, CESA and WEAC. She was heavily involved in the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as president of the local unit, district 11 and then at the state level.
In 1994, Janiece found companionship with Bill Fischer. They married and she became Janiece Fischer. They spent 23 happy years together and traveled extensively to Russia, Africa, Alaska, and all over the United States. After Bill died in 2017, Janiece persevered and continued living independently for years.
At the venerable age of 93, her physical body wore out, but her indomitable spirit lives on in heaven with her parents, twin sisters, two beloved husbands, a grandson and friends that have passed before her. Janiece is survived by her five children – John (Sara) Hendrick, Kevin (Jill) Hendrick, Mary Hendrick, Ann Hendrick and Lois (Tim) Harrison. She is further survived by her grandchildren Megan, Rowan, Allie, Winona, Donovan, Rachel, Jim, Isaiah, Travis, Kaden, Billie, Dylan and Devin, and great-grandchildren Hannah, Hazel and Willow.
Janiece Maxine Colvin Hendrick Fischer had a profound impact on thousands of people and will be remembered fondly as a caring teacher, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and steadfast friend. She was generous, loving, supportive, funny, stubborn, an advocate for those who needed it, well dressed, and patriotic to her core. We are all blessed to have known her.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Willows in Iola, Wis., who provided Janiece with a happy and caring living environment in her final years, and the Compassus hospice team who helped her live in dignity and comfort to the end.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Boston Funeral Home, 1649 Briggs St., Stevens Point. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the service starts at 11 a.m. For those interested in attending the funeral services, the family requests that you wear bright colors to honor Janiece’s personality and wardrobe preferences in life. Burial service to be held at Calvary Cemetery in Tomahawk on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1 p.m.