Beckius, Janet E.

Highland – Janet E. Beckius, age 83, of Highland passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 27, 2025 after complications related to a heart procedure.

Spending the majority of her life in Highland, Wisconsin, she moved to Highland in the early 1950s with her family where her father Al was a cheesemaker and started the Banner Cheese factory.  In the last years of high school, she was wooed by Everett, just before he shipped off to Germany with the Army.  After graduating high school she headed to the big city of Madison working at Madison Newspaper, Fauerbach Brewery, and Manchester’s on the Square. She lived with various girlfriends from Highland.  Janet’s story was for social activity, they worked and read a lot, that was her story, but we question if it was true. 

Everett was discharged from the military in 1962 and returned home. Luckily enough, he found that Janet was still interested, and she eventually said yes to marrying him.  They were married in Highland at St Anthony Catholic Church on August 25, 1962.   They started their married life on the Beckius family farm, dairy farming and raising a family for the next 63 years of marriage. Along the way, there were many nights playing cards with friends, baling hay, milking cows, and growing children.  Janet was an EMT on the Highland Ambulance Service 1974 to 1992 and also served as treasurer, worked at Lands’ End, ASCS, Spurgeon Vineyards, started her own flower shop, team drove semi-truck over the road with Everett, and finally, her favorite job in retirement, camp hosting at Governor Dodge State Park. 

Family was the most important thing in Janet’s life.  She always wanted her kids (no matter what state or country they were in) to be happy.  She dearly loved her Grandkids and Great Grandkids.  Seldom was a time that Grandma Sugar, as she was fondly known,  wouldn’t be at either a game, recital, or graduation for her grandkids, even if they were hours away.  She would talk Everett into jumping into the car and heading to the event, even if she hadn’t let her kids or Grandkids know they were on the way.  She thought the surprise pop ‘ins were great – as did we, eventually.  She had a fantastic life of 83 years, brought joy to her family and friends, and will continue to put smiles on the faces of the people who knew her as they reflect on the fun times.

Janet’s legacy lives on through her children.  Baby John (deceased 1963), Reggie (son) and Treva, Michelle (Daughter) and Kevin Peterson, Tony (Son) and Jenn, Dan (son) and Danielle,  Jennifer (Daughter) and Dan Carey.  Janet has 10 Grandkids and 12 Great Grandkids who always kept “Grandma Sugar” smiling and active.  Janet is also survived by her husband Everett Beckius, sister Joan Hoernke and brother Jim (Bev) Hoernke.  Brothers and sisters-in-law Delbert (Joan), Arnold (Ruth), Virgil (Lana) and Norman (Yvonne) Beckius.  

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Ss. ANTHONY & PHILIP CATHOLIC CHURCH in Highland. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Ss. ANTHONY & PHILIP CATHOLIC CHURCH.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Iowa County Cancer Coalition or the Highland E.M.S.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com