Obituary for Janet Rose Stewart (Tapy)
Janet Rose (Tapy) Stewart, born on November 21st, 1933, in Terra Haute, Indiana, passed away peacefully in her sleep the morning of December 25th, 2022, in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. She was 89. She was born to Forest and Margaret (Kirkland) Tapy.
Janet is preceded in death by the love of her life, her late husband, Robert Lafayette Stewart, who she married on Christmas Eve in 1955. Further preceded in death by her parents, her step mother, Pearl Tapy, her brother and sister-in-law, William James and Marilyn Tapy, and her three brother-in-laws: Bill Bannister, Richard Ward, and LeRoy Drader.
Janet is survived by her three children: Robert (Lori) Stewart of Greenfield, Amy (Jim) Mudlaff of Elkhorn, Lisa (Steve) Yahnke of Oconomowoc, and her foster daughter Beverly (Brad) Worman of Hartford; her 10 grandchildren, Joshua (Alyson) Stewart, Bobby (Valerie) Stewart, Jacob (Brianna) Mudlaff, Amanda Mudlaff, Samantha Mudlaff, Emily (Nick) Crivello, Nathan Yahnke, Garrett Worman, Mitchell Worman, and Quinntin Worman; and great granddaughter, Amelia Rose Crivello. She is further survived by her three sister-in-laws, Sue Bannister, Martha Ward, and Judy Drader, and many nieces and nephews.
Janet was a kind woman with a heart of gold who overcame many obstacles her entire life. After graduating from Wiley High School in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1951, she went on to earn her teaching degree from Indiana State University. After graduating high school together, Bob and Janet dated all through college until they married. His family immediately knew she was the one because despite Bob’s disability from surviving Polio at age 16, she loved him endlessly.
Janet began her teaching career in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 1955-1956 school year. From there she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin teaching at Mound St School for 1956-1957 school year, before returning to Indiana working for the Richmond School District until 1960. They returned to Wisconsin at that time where she taught at Tess Corners Elementary school in Muskego, WI from 1960 through 1965 when her second child was born. She not only cared for her students, her own children, but in addition, cared for her grandmother, Amelia Kirkland, who lived with her until the time of her death in 1983.
When Bob passed on January 5th, 1985, after 30 years of marriage, Janet spent the next 37 years living for her children and her grandchildren. She never remarried, often saying, “Once you have had the best, there is no one else.” The family likes to believe she further waited for the birth of her first great granddaughter. During this time, she opened her heart and her home to one of Lisa’s best friends, accepting her into the family and raising her as a daughter. She loved her family! She went to every milestone event, school event and even made it to her granddaughter’s wedding in February 2020!
Janet loved and accepted everyone, talking to perfect strangers and always willing to help those in need. Janet enjoyed teaching so much that she eventually returned to teaching as a substitute teacher and then a teacher’s aide, retiring from the Whitnall School District in 2010.
If Janet wasn’t with her family, she was with her friends, playing in many card groups or volunteering for the Hales Corners Lioness. Janet loved to watch the news, sports and all morning talk shows. Many will remember her as an avid reader. Her books, as we all referred to as “smut stories” were everywhere, and it was hard for her to let them go!
Janet dealt with her own medical issues fighting through it all until eventually moving into an assisted living in Hales Corners. The staff at Park Hills West, in Hales Corners, cared for her as if she were their own grandma, many even calling her Nana. We also wish to thank all the staff at Preceptor Home Health and Hospice for their support.
There will be a memorial service on January 5, 2023 at Hartson Funeral Home, 11111 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners, 4:00 to 6:00 pm. A private family burial will take place January 14th, 2023 at Center Ridge Cemetery in Sullivan, Indiana.
Janet is preceded in death by the love of her life, her late husband, Robert Lafayette Stewart, who she married on Christmas Eve in 1955. Further preceded in death by her parents, her step mother, Pearl Tapy, her brother and sister-in-law, William James and Marilyn Tapy, and her three brother-in-laws: Bill Bannister, Richard Ward, and LeRoy Drader.
Janet is survived by her three children: Robert (Lori) Stewart of Greenfield, Amy (Jim) Mudlaff of Elkhorn, Lisa (Steve) Yahnke of Oconomowoc, and her foster daughter Beverly (Brad) Worman of Hartford; her 10 grandchildren, Joshua (Alyson) Stewart, Bobby (Valerie) Stewart, Jacob (Brianna) Mudlaff, Amanda Mudlaff, Samantha Mudlaff, Emily (Nick) Crivello, Nathan Yahnke, Garrett Worman, Mitchell Worman, and Quinntin Worman; and great granddaughter, Amelia Rose Crivello. She is further survived by her three sister-in-laws, Sue Bannister, Martha Ward, and Judy Drader, and many nieces and nephews.
Janet was a kind woman with a heart of gold who overcame many obstacles her entire life. After graduating from Wiley High School in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1951, she went on to earn her teaching degree from Indiana State University. After graduating high school together, Bob and Janet dated all through college until they married. His family immediately knew she was the one because despite Bob’s disability from surviving Polio at age 16, she loved him endlessly.
Janet began her teaching career in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 1955-1956 school year. From there she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin teaching at Mound St School for 1956-1957 school year, before returning to Indiana working for the Richmond School District until 1960. They returned to Wisconsin at that time where she taught at Tess Corners Elementary school in Muskego, WI from 1960 through 1965 when her second child was born. She not only cared for her students, her own children, but in addition, cared for her grandmother, Amelia Kirkland, who lived with her until the time of her death in 1983.
When Bob passed on January 5th, 1985, after 30 years of marriage, Janet spent the next 37 years living for her children and her grandchildren. She never remarried, often saying, “Once you have had the best, there is no one else.” The family likes to believe she further waited for the birth of her first great granddaughter. During this time, she opened her heart and her home to one of Lisa’s best friends, accepting her into the family and raising her as a daughter. She loved her family! She went to every milestone event, school event and even made it to her granddaughter’s wedding in February 2020!
Janet loved and accepted everyone, talking to perfect strangers and always willing to help those in need. Janet enjoyed teaching so much that she eventually returned to teaching as a substitute teacher and then a teacher’s aide, retiring from the Whitnall School District in 2010.
If Janet wasn’t with her family, she was with her friends, playing in many card groups or volunteering for the Hales Corners Lioness. Janet loved to watch the news, sports and all morning talk shows. Many will remember her as an avid reader. Her books, as we all referred to as “smut stories” were everywhere, and it was hard for her to let them go!
Janet dealt with her own medical issues fighting through it all until eventually moving into an assisted living in Hales Corners. The staff at Park Hills West, in Hales Corners, cared for her as if she were their own grandma, many even calling her Nana. We also wish to thank all the staff at Preceptor Home Health and Hospice for their support.
There will be a memorial service on January 5, 2023 at Hartson Funeral Home, 11111 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners, 4:00 to 6:00 pm. A private family burial will take place January 14th, 2023 at Center Ridge Cemetery in Sullivan, Indiana.