Janice Lee Stropp
1945-2020

The earth lost one of its finest servants when Janice Lee Stropp passed away January 19, 2020 in Cox South in Springfield following one of the most courageous and tenacious thirteen year battle with cancer and kidney failure. She served with a dignity and humility that only Jan could master. Her faith in her Lord never wavered and her outlook and determinations never ceased. “Courage is not having the strength to go on; it’s going on when the strength is gone.”

Jan’s life was built upon serving others rather than being served. Her witness to all was one of encouragement and goodness. She drew people to herself with respect, kindness and love. She met others with an infectious smile that made each one feel instantly loved and never judged. She had the gifts of music and interior design, even without formal training, but her greatest gift was her heart for sharing. From that heart came honesty, caring, gentleness, kindness, integrity, loyalty, God-fearing, courage, tenacity, commitment, patience, simplicity, grace, respect, and most of all love. Knowing her was to love her and if you truly knew her it was easy to love her.

Words are inadequate to express the heartfelt gratitude of Jan’s family to the many who selflessly served Jan during her many years of illness. To Dr. Sai Nayar, whom she affectionately called “the smiling Indian”, Dr. Timi Akins and the entire PD and hemodialysis staff at the Ferrell Duncan Clinic we say that you’ll never know how much you have meant to Jan and her family. You are the best of the best! To Dr. Robert Ellis and his entire staff at Oncology Hematology Associates from the front to the back, you treated and loved Jan like she was a part of you. Thank You! To those caregivers of the 7th floor Oncology unit at Cox South who provided Jan with the finest medical care in the world we are thankful for the way you have heeded the call to provide loving and compassionate care for the sick and dying. We were fortunate to have you! The entire ER team at Cox South and Dr. Matt Brandt, particularly, with his genius mind. Dr. Myron Mizell, Dr. Dave Anderson and Dr. Chapman Olive dearest friends of Jan who were always there to help us obtain the best care possible for Jan because of their love for her, we are especially grateful.

Jan is survived by dear husband of 41 years Michael, her mother Leona Newton, her sister Judith Reilly, her niece Dana Walenczyk several nieces and nephews including Christian Kay Bruce, Taylor and Kennis Walenczyk and Rachael Fredlund. She is also survived by literally hundreds of people who now have a missing piece in their hearts because Jan is no longer with us physically.
Jan is gone but will never be forgotten by those who loved her. A dear friend described it best when he stated, “if we all had Jan’s resilience and goodness, this world would be a much much better place.

A memorial service for Jan will be at 1:00 pm Saturday, February 15, 2020 at East Sunshine Church of Christ under the care of Greenlawn Funeral Home East.

The family wishes in lieu of flowers for you to please make a contribution in Jan’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at stjude.org