Janice Mae Colberg

Janice Mae (Ruter) Colberg, age 85 of Freeport, Illinois passed away Monday, January 1, 2024 at home. She was born on a farm near Baileyville, Illinois on May 6, 1938 to the late Peter and Marianna (Janssen) Ruter. Janice married Melvin L Colberg on June 28, 1964 at Forreston Reformed Church in Forreston, Illinois.

Janice attended Rural Schools and Forreston Schools and later obtained her GED. She was a member of the Faith Reformed Church in Lanark, Illinois. She had worked at Structo, Burgess Battery, Micro Switch, Prairie Advocate and PNC. Janice was an accomplished artist in many different areas: cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, painting, ceramics and doll making. Her greatest passions were being a Mom and Oma (Grandmother in German), drinking tea, speaking Platt (low German) and being the go-to person for the Ruter family geneology. She was a very active member of the Rund Dee Tee Pot (an Ostfriesen heritage group). She never knew a stranger and everyone was always invited in for a cup of tea.

Janice is survived by her husband Melvin of Freeport, Illinois, daughters Valerie (Brad) Woessner of Shannon, Illinois and Natalie (Andy) Grebner of Monroe, Wisconsin; her grandchildren Benjamin Woessner, Hannah Woessner, Jacob Grebner and Madalyn Grebner; her brother Roger Ruter of Shannon, Illinois and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister-in-law, Carolyn Ruter.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday January 6, 2024 at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Forreston, IL (203 3rd Ave) with Rev. Brian Janssen officiating. Visitation will be 4-7:00 PM Friday January 5, 2024 also at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, Forreston, IL, and also from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport, IL. A memorial has been established in Janice's memory. The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice for their phenomenal care.