Janet Sue Molzahn passed away surrounded by her family on December 30, 2022, at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, NE. She was born in Sidney, Ohio to Robert and Naomi (Mace) Perkins. Janet spent most of her childhood in Florida where she was baptized in a Baptist church in Tampa. After her mother became ill, the family moved to Lebanon, Kansas where she attended school. She graduated from Smith Center High School in 1968.
Janet and Kenneth Molzahn married on August 24, 1968. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on February 16, 1969, at Pleasant Green Lutheran Church near the farm where they lived. To this union, they were blessed with three children: Michele, William, and James. Janet was always busy with helping with the farm and taking care of her children. Each weekday she always cooked lunch at her mother and father in laws house down the road. Each Sunday the family attended St. John Lutheran Church where their children were also confirmed. The family lived on the family farm until a tornado damaged their home in May 10,1985.
Janet’s children always remember how hard their mother always worked. After her divorce from Kenneth, Janet worked many long hours as a CMA at nursing homes in Phillipsburg and Smith Center. She also was a prison guard, janitor, business owner, and dog trimmer. Janet also continued learning throughout her life through community college classes. Her children will always remember how proud she was of their activities. In the summers she drove them to all their baseball games and even did some coaching. Their mom was a 4-H Leader and a Sunday School teacher. Despite of how hard she worked, she was always in the stands at their school sporting events cheering them on.
Janet married George Russell on April 8, 1993 in Las Vegas, NV. They enjoyed spending time boating and fishing together. Their dogs also brought them much happiness.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Perkins and Naomi (Mace) Perkins and brothers Richard Shearer and David Shearer. She is survived by her husband, George Russell of the home; daughter, Michele Jones and husband Mike of Marion, IA; two sons Bill Molzahn and wife Melanie and James Molzahn and wife Sarah, all of Agra, KS; a brother Ronald Styles of Salina, KS; two sisters Sharla Hayward of Aurora, CO and Ann Nelson of Lindsborg, KS. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Ashley Gassmann (Andrew), Aaron Jones, Joseph Molzahn, Jack Molzahn, Addison Molzahn, Conner Molzahn and Jenna Molzahn.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2023 in the St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, with Pastor Kathy Whitney officiating. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Agra Cemetery, Agra, KS.
Mrs. Molzahn will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends Thursday evening from 7 p.m. until 8 pm. for visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. John Lutheran Church.