Obituary of Janyce Albert

Janyce L. (?Jan?) Albert, 79, Rockford, IL, died peacefully at Riverview Hospital, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin on Friday, December 30th, 2011, following a short rehab stay at Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehab Center, Wisconsin Rapids, near her family. Jan was born on July 27th, 1932 to Howard C. and Glenola Mae (Masters) Blessing in Toledo, Ohio. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University and Michigan State University, graduating in 1953 with a BA from Michigan State. She married John R. Albert, August 7th, 1954, in Toledo, Ohio. She and John had two sons, John R. Jr. (?Jack?) and James H. before John died in 1963. Jan obtained her Masters Degree in 1980 from Iowa State University. Jan had a long career as a human resources specialist, business educator, bank consultant, and community volunteer. She worked as the Assistant Personnel Manager/Training Supervisor for Sears, Roebuck & Co., Toledo, OH 1953-56; Teacher of Adult Education, Tenafly Public Schools Tenafly, NJ 1966-70; Personnel/Training Officer/Education Manager Iowa Dept. of Transportation Ames, IA, 1974-77; College Recruiting Coordinator Rockwell International, Cedar Rapids, IA, 1977-79 and Engineering Administration Manager, 1979-80; Employee Relations and Job Evaluation Analyst, Recruiter for Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK, 1980-81; Vice President, Director of Personnel, Republic Bancorp, Tulsa, OK, 1981-83; Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources, First National Bank, Rockford, IL, 1983-94 ;Director of Business Division Rock Valley College, 1994-99; Human Resources Consultant Furst Group, Rockford, IL, 2000-06; Advisor to National Professional Secretaries Association; Member of the Advisory Committee, Zion Development Group, 2000-2006; Board of Directors, Rocvale Children?s Home, 1986-97, 1999-2001; Board of Directors, United Way of Ames Iowa, 1976-77; Rockford Human Resources Community Action Program, 1988-92; Rockford Leadership Foundation 1994-96; Board Member, Kagawong Heritage Museum, Ontario, Canada, 2009-11; Member, Employee Service Committee, Rockford Public Schools, 1988-92; Account Executive, United Way of Rockford, 1993-98; Chair, Legislative Committee, Rockford Human Services Dept., 1989-92; Chair, Rockford, State of IL, Job Services Employers Council, 1990-97; Taskforce, Rockford Board of Education 1993-94; Advisor, Rockford Chapter ARC, 1991-04; Mayor?s Task Force for Rockford Project Self-Sufficiency, 1986-89; Board of Directors Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 1992-95; Chairperson, Rockford Central Area Commerce, 1997-99; Board of Directors, Rock Valley College Foundation, 2000-03; Member of Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, 2205-09; Charter Board Member, Riverside Community Bank, 1992-2003; Recipient: YWCA Kate O?Connor Award for Women in Labor Force, 1984; Rockford Athena Chapter,1991, National Athena Foundation, Woman of the Year, 1991; Member of: World Trade Council, PEO Chapter, Womanspace, Rockford Panhellenic Council, Rockford Women?s Club, Gore Bay, Ontario Rotary Club, Rockford Rotary International, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Epsilon. Jan loved spending time with her family and her many friends, from near and far. Besides her home in Rockford, Jan spent a lifetime of summers on Manitoulin Island, Kagawong, Ontario, Canada, where she loved sitting on her dock, with her very special Scottish Terrier, Bailey, by her side. Jan was preceded in death by her parents and husband, John. Jan is survived by her son John R. ?Jack? (Jill) Albert, Jr., Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and son, James (Chris) Albert, Brodhead, WI, and by her grandchild, Kaylyn, and step-grandchildren Alissa, and Austin. She is further survived by her sister, Betty (Thomas) Fredrickson, Champaign, IL. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Bailey. The family wishes to thank the staff of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, the Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehabilitation Center staff and the staff at Riverview Hospital, both in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, for their care and compassion they had for Jan. A special thanks goes out to Jan?s friends and neighbors, for their help, love, and support through the years. There will be a Memorial Visitation from 3 to 6 p.m., Thursday, January 5, 2011 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home (Mulford Chapel) 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL. Memorial Service to follow at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any animal rescue organization of choice, as Jan was a supporter of over 55 animal rescue organizations.