Neil, Janice

Janice Neil, age 68, of Dodgeville, passed away unexpectedly on December 19, 2024.  She was born April 16, 1956, in Anderson, Ind to Richard and Helen Ramey.  Her family moved to Jackson, MI in her early years.

Janice graduated from Jackson High School and attended Eastern Michigan University.  She graduated with a teaching degree specializing in students who were deaf or hard of hearing.

She moved to Southwestern Wisconsin and spent 42 years in education, starting with C.E.S.A #3 as an itinerant teacher, traveling from school to school to serve those students in need.  She left to join the Dodgeville School District as a full-time Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  While in Dodgeville, she attended Silver Lake College and attained certification as a teacher of the Visually Impaired.  She was one time the only teacher dual certified in Wisconsin with those credentials.  During her time in Dodgeville, she also worked with the Mineral Point School District. 

Janice retired from full-time teaching and started her own business as an education consultant.  She continued to work with students from Dodgeville and Mineral Point until she decided to finally fully retire.

Janice and Brian Neil were united in marriage on July 21,1984 in Platteville, WI.  She continued to work full time while they farmed beneath the “M”, even learning to drive a tractor to help when needed.  During this time, they welcomed their first daughter Dana. Janice loved the barn cats, eventually taming one as the first of many house cats.  She loved to bring her students out to the farm for field trips.  A few years later they moved to Dodgeville in 1991 welcoming their second daughter Laura a few years later.

Janice loved to go camping and/or traveling to visit family and friends.  Many people enjoyed her “online check ins” that allowed them to travel with her virtually.  She camped across the US from Maine to Wyoming.  She especially enjoyed the friends she made at Tom’s Campground. 

Janice had a passion for making handmade cards.  She kept a list of people’s birthdays and anniversaries and made sure to send them a card.  She had a close-knit group of card making friends that she enjoyed spending time with for classes and retreats.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Helen Ramey, In-laws Paul and Pearl Neil, sister-in-law Sandra Neil and brothers-in-law Dale Neil, Donald Neil, and Ronald Musto.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Brian; her daughters Dana of Menomonie, WI and Laura (David) Cifaldi of Billings, MT; her beloved dog Parker.  She is further survived by her sisters Cheryl (Jim) Blair of Jackson, MI, Karen Musto of Henderson, NV and Sharon Ramey of Henderson, NV; her in-laws Susan Brown of Sparta, TN, Doreen Neil of Sioux Falls, SD, Robert Neil of Randolph, MN and Caryn Lengkeek of Valley Springs, SD; her nieces and nephews Samantha (Todd) Nunn of Kalamazoo, MI, James (Brenna Chase) Blair of Brooks, ME, Brandon Lengkeek of Tucson, AZ, Heather (Steve) Milligan of San Jose, CA, Jennifer Brown of Sparta, TN; her great nieces and nephews Todd, McKenna and Kyla Nunn, Noah and Ava Blair, Brandi Milligan, Racheal and Jonathan Delgado.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH in Dodgeville. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH.

In lieu of plants and flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Dodger Food Locker or the Iowa County Humane Society.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com