Janet M. Grossman

Janet M. Grossman, 88, of rural Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Thursday, August 3, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.  She was born September 10, 1934 in Bureau Township to G. Harold and Martha (Lantz) Andersen.  She graduated from Bureau Township High School and was the first female score keeper for the boys’ high school basketball team, demonstrating her lifelong love of sports.

On December 6, 1953, she married Melvin W. Grossman at the Manlius Baptist Church.  Together, they purchased the farm in Ohio where they resided for nearly 69 years.  Janet is survived by their children, son Richard (Cynthia) Grossman of Lake Barrington, IL, and daughter Elaine (Dr. Jeff) Gotro of Dove Canyon, CA; five grandchildren Dr. Erin (Jeff) Foster, Lindsey Holmes, Emily Grossman, Steven Grossman, and John (Emily Applegate) Grossman; and three great-grandchildren, Parker Holmes, Caden and Kai Foster; very special niece Carmen (Robert) Sissel, first cousin Gary (Charotte) Johnson, and other nieces and nephews.  Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin, her parents, and brother, John H. (Jack) Andersen.

Janet was blessed with an abundance of musical talent, able to play both the organ and piano by ear, as well as the saxophone and accordion.  She was organist for the Ohio First Lutheran Church since she was 21 years old.  In 1989, Mel and Janet purchased a hand-built circus calliope organ at a music rally in the state of Ohio, mounted the calliope on a 1937 Chevrolet truck purchased from Mel’s uncle, which started over 30 years of parading and performing at community festivals and events throughout the Midwest as “Mel and Mel-o-dee and their Calli-o-pe.”  Their calliope slogan was “Celebrate with Music.” Their first appearance was at the Princeton Homestead Festival, winning the Most Humorous Entry trophy. They also led the Evanston, IL, Fourth of July Parade for 23 years.  They were members of the Music Box Society and other mechanical musical instrument organizations or associations, winning many awards, and making innumerable friends and acquaintances through the years.  In 2009, Janet was named the Illinois Health Care Association’s Volunteer of the Year, for sharing her musical talent and entertaining the residents of Walnut Manor for over 35 years.  She also was bookkeeper for the family farming, corn shelling & hauling, and farm drainage and excavation businesses throughout the years.  

Janet loved social activities, including weekly coffee with her neighbors and other favorite pastimes such as spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending Northwestern University football games and bowl games, and camping with a club of fellow campers.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, August 6th from 3:00-5:00 PM at the Grant Johnson Funeral Home in Princeton.  A funeral service will be held on Monday, August 7th at 10:00 AM with a visitation from 9:15-10:00 AM, at the Ohio First Lutheran Church, with burial to follow in the Oakland Cemetery, Princeton.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ohio First Lutheran Church, Rock River Hospice & Home, or a pet charity of your choice.