Janice Mae Eppard, formerly of Red Wing, died on June 5, 2019. She was born, along with her twin sister, on October 24, 1931 in Tracy, Minnesota to Walter and Anna (Clay) Moon. She was 87.
Janice attended elementary school in Amiret, Minnesota and graduated from Tracy High School in 1949. She earned a teaching degree from Mankato State Teacher’s College in 1951 and taught at the elementary school in Worthington, Minnesota. She married Marvin Eppard on August 16, 1952.
Her gift and passion was teaching children beginning with her own daughters and sons. She served as the Children’s Librarian at National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois while her husband attended seminary. While living in Madelia, Lakefield, Perham and Fairmont, Minnesota; St. Charles, Missouri; Nome, Alaska and following retirement, Red Wing, Minnesota, she continually taught children’s church school classes. Once her children were in school, she began to volunteer as a tutor and then served as a teacher’s aide in the public schools. While in Missouri, she was among the founders of Friends Forever Preschool where she taught for seven years. In Nome she served as a substitute teacher and as Assistant Librarian in the public school. Whenever Janice saw a child, a smile came to her face and her hand reached out in gentle kindness.
Janice made hospitality a genuine and gifted career. She was known for her beautiful and tasty Swedish tea rings, which she made with love as gifts on numerous occasions. Decorated in simplicity, her home was always inviting and comfortable for guests.
Janice is survived by her husband, Marvin, two daughters, Janette (John) Benzen, Ruth (David) Anderson, two sons, Paul (Maren) Eppard, Robert (Sarah) Eppard, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren, Ross (Marianne) Benzen (and their children Natalie and Eli), Hugh (Brittni) Benzen (and their son Trey), Nora Benzen; Christopher and Jason Anderson; Berit, Mikaela and Tate Eppard; Madeline Eppard; brothers Frank (Betty) Moon, and Dwight (Jean) Moon, sister-in-law Jean Moon and foster daughter Lisa Hasledalen.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her sister Mary Ann Moon, her brother Dwayne Moon, her twin sister Joanne Becklund who died eight days before Janice and her brother-in-law Morris Becklund.
Visitation will be at First Covenant Church, 2302 Twin Bluff Road, Red Wing, MN 55066 on Friday, June 14th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the service of memory on Saturday, June 15th at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior.
The family suggests First Covenant Church Building Fund and Alaska Christian College for memorial gifts.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.