Elizabeth "Betsy" Ann Janssen

On April 9, 2024, Elizabeth “Betsy” Janssen (nee Danielson) surrounded by family, peacefully entered eternal life at age 83. 

Betsy was born May 28, 1940, in Ettrich, Wisconsin to Francis Danielson and Thea Husmoen Danielson. She graduated from Black River Falls High School in 1958, and thanks to a nursing scholarship attended St. Francis School of Nursing/Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where she received her RN. Betsy moved to Madison in 1961 to begin work as a surgical nurse supporting the first open heart surgeon at UW-Madison. While working there she met and was married to Leon P. Janssen on December 21, 1963. The following year, Leon entered active service in the U.S. Army. After a short stay at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Betsy, Leon, and their daughter Jodi moved to Munich, Germany, where in 1965 Betsy gave birth to their first son, Jay. In 1967, after another stay at Ft. Sill, Betsy and family moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she worked part time as a critical care nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center and gave birth to their third child, David. Betsy also was an active community volunteer, serving on the Camp Holy Cross board of directors among other organizations. 

In 1972, the Janssen family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, which would become their home for the next 52 years. Betsy loved helping others, so the opportunity to serve on the Mental Health Association of Waukesha County’s Annual Golf Outing Committee was a marriage made in heaven. Many members of the golf committee were close friends even after. She was also an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood for 38 years, serving in multiple committee and leadership roles including chapter president. 

An avid sports fan, Betsy generally read the sports section of the newspaper each day from beginning to end. Beyond her early love of snow and water skiing, she was an enthusiastic tennis player and golfer, once even carding a hole-in-one. Her greatest sport joy, however, was following her children and grandchildren from one competition to another, or taking them to a Badgers, Brewers, or Packer’s game. Family gatherings were occasionally marked with some Norwegian traditions and Grandma Danielson’s apple pie recipe. Betsy brought enthusiasm, hard work, and a caring spirit to every activity. 

With her children growing up, Betsy returned to her nursing career, serving as one of the Carroll College Health Center campus nurses for 19 years. She recalled fondly the many lasting student and faculty relationships that were built through her work at Carroll. 

Betsy is survived by her husband of 60 years, Leon; her children, Jodi (Jim) Jacobson, Jay (Barb) Janssen and David (Jen Kolesar) Janssen; grandchildren, Danya Okey, John Jacobson, Elizabeth (Thomas) Anderson, Paul Jacobson, Christopher Janssen, Ethan Janssen, and Anna Janssen; as well as many nieces and nephews. She is further survived by her siblings Sharon Peterson, Ron Danielson, and Karl (Betty) Danielson 

She was preceded in death by her parents Francis and Thea Danielson and her siblings Laverne, Mary, Darlene, Arlan Laverne, and Helmer; brothers-in-law Don Hansen and Bob Peterson; and sister-in-law Sheila Danielson. 

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 South Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186, from 12:00 p.m. until the 1:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery. 

Betsy’s family expresses sincere gratitude to the surgery team, Waukesha Memorial Hospital nurses and doctors on 4SW and Angel’sGrace Hospice for their extraordinary efforts in caring for Betsy. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Betsy’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin (Waukesha) or to a charitable organization of your choosing.