Janis Marie Butzier, 68, of Perrysburg Ohio passed away at home on January 4, 2025. Born November 1, 1956 in Fremont, Ohio to Carl Leander Butzier and Marjorie June (Conrad) Butzier. Janis was raised in Kansas, Ohio in the home her father built by hand after his return from World War II as a decorated United States Army Staff Sergeant, Mortar Group Team Leader (Purple Heart, Bronze Star, OLC). When Janis was aged 4, her father died in an industrial accident in Bettsville, Ohio. Janis held a steadfast, lifelong appreciation and debt of gratitude for the personal grief and sacrifices her mother endured during that tragic time. Her mother exhibited tremendous strength and fortitude to carry on and provide a safe, loving, Christian home for Janis and her three older siblings.
Janis graduated from Lakota High School Kansas, Ohio in 1974 where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, marching band and a basketball athlete. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University. In 1978 Janis was hired by the United States Postal Service as the first female letter carrier for the city of Bowling Green, Ohio. She went on to become Postmaster in Custar, Ohio and Rudolph, Ohio respectively. At the age of 40 Janis resigned from the Postal Service to have the freedom to provide care and advocacy for her mother. Janis owned rental property in Wood County, Ohio for 42 years. She was a capable, self-reliant, multifaceted woman who possessed in innate positive attitude and zest for life.
Janis chose to define her life through music, art, nature and travel. She was a pianist from an early age and self-taught as an adult in mandolin and guitar. With her business “Music with Janis”, she provided live piano entertainment to senior living communities throughout NW Ohio for 21 years. She was a member of the Toledo Artist Club and the Toledo Women’s Art League. She particularly enjoyed painting plein air where she could combine the inner peace found while painting with her love for the outdoors. From the age of 8, she was a collector of antique postcards amassing a collection of over 20,000 cards. During the past year, she generously donated a large segment of her real photo postcard collection with historical significance to museums and historical societies throughout the United States and abroad. “I love it when cards find their way home after 100 years”, she would say as she shipped the cards to their place of origin. She was an avid hiker, cyclist, protector of animals, student of astronomy and researcher of family genealogy. To travel with Janis was a grand adventure. Whether she was sea kayaking off the coast of Maine, hiking the Rockies, cycling along the Grand Tetons, hugging a redwood in California, or gazing at the constellations atop a granite mountain at midnight, she was totally immersed in the natural wonders of her destination. Armed with her topographical maps, tide charts and star charts, she was always happily in pursuit of the next breathtaking vista. She was a woman of many talents, an independent thinker, and lived each day to the fullest.
Left to deeply mourn her passing is partner Mary Clayton. Family includes sisters, Carol (David) Gannon, and Linda Olmstead, 5 nephews and numerous cherished cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Thomas, L Butzier, nephew Bruce H. Meade, and family friend, Jim Kesler who provided kindness, encouragement and sage advice.
Family and friends will be received at the Harrold-Floriana Funeral Home Fostoria, Ohio on Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 2 to 7 PM. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Harold Floriana Funeral Home Fostoria, Ohio with Pastor Mark Self officiating. Burial will be at the Kansas Cemetery Kansas, Ohio immediately following the service.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Kansas United Methodist Church, Kansas, Ohio or Kansas Fire and Rescue, Kansas Ohio.
