Smith, Janis Warrington

Janis Warrington Smith

Janis Warrington Smith was born in Keshena, WI on the Menominee Reservation on August 10, 1936. She passed away on November 12, 2023, surrounded by family, after a long battle with cancer.

She moved to Bagley, WI and was raised by her Grandma Quick, along with several of her siblings. She loved to tell tales of growing up and the importance of family. She was next to the youngest in a family of 8.

She married William “Bud” Smith on November 1, 1958. They lived in Bagley, WI for several years before eventually moving to Dodgeville, WI and opened the tavern Ten-Four Club. Over the years of owning the bar, mom was primary cook and bartender. They sponsored many softball, pool and bowling teams. Janis loved to shoot pool and bowl. She met many people through the years and made friends easily. Her smile and laughter were noted by all.

After selling the bar, she worked at Mineral Point’s IGA store. She enjoyed working with the public and made friends with the people and kids that came in, including a couple of “Tater-heads”. She then went on to work at House on the Rock for many years, gathering more friends along the way. When she was done there, she continued to “work” at her favorite job by babysitting many of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and 2 children who became honorary “grandchildren”. She was known as Grandma Jan, Aunt Jan or Gigi to many.

Family was most important to her and once you became family, you were always family. Her trait of telling people “Love you more” was well known, especially since she would yell it out her door as people were leaving until she couldn’t see the car any longer. Her whole neighborhood would know someone she loved was leaving her home. She also gave the best hugs to everyone she loved.

She wanted to get back in touch with her roots, so for several years started going to the annual Pow Wow on the Menominee reservation with her daughters, then granddaughters and even great grandkids. She was very happy to run into family members she didn’t get to see all the time. She looked forward to these “family trips” every year around her birthday. Any time with family was precious to her.

Janis is survived by her children Terri (Jeff) Smith of Maribel, WI, Deb (JR) Reed and Tiger (April) Smith, all of Dodgeville, her grandchildren Jackie Bugni, Joshua Loy, Laura Loy, Michael Katzke, Jeremy Stonestreet, Kristy Mueller, Matthew Reed, Rebecca Reed, Jeanne Lee, Jordan Smith, Trinity Smith, Heather Burgess, Jamie Page, Steven Page, Corlissa, Tina, Bud (Merlin), Jamie, Jody and honorary grandkids Amber and Jake Paulson. She is also survived by 30 + great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, god-daughter Linda, many nieces and nephews that she held close to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her Grandma Quick, parents Amber Quick Warrington and Edwin Warrington, her husband Bud, her siblings Edith Warrington, Kidd (Wilda)Warrington, Donovan Warrington, Roberta (Hank) Webb, Darlene (Jack) Martin, Arlene Warrington and Edwin Warrington, a half sister Eileen, stepson James Smith, a special sister-in-law Marion Peterson and her husband Marvin Peterson, granddaughter Tilah Page, great-granddaughter Kendall Loy and several other family members and friends whom she loved dearly.

She lived and died on her terms and in her time frame. She was known to have a bit of “sass” to her that she passed on to her family, providing strength to them all. She did not realize how many people’s lives she touched over the years. She was an amazing lady, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend. She passed on her love of family and many stories. She will be missed by so many.

A special thank you to the staff at Stonefield Apartments in Dodgeville over the past year and the nursing staff at Upland Hills Nursing Rehab Center and the Upland Hills Hospice group in Dodgeville for the care during her month stay there. She was known as the coffee lady and they learned to bring 2 cups of coffee each time, not just one when it was asked for.

A Celebration of Janis’ Life will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the RED ROOM in Dodgeville.

Times will be posted at a later date.

Private inurnment will be held in Nagle Union Cemetery near Prairie du Chien.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Upland Hills Hospice.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com