Janet Marie (Wilhelm) Claxton

Janet Marie (Wilhelm) Claxton, 75, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital.  Born June 11, 1948, in Wolf Lake, Indiana. She was a daughter of the late F. Edward Wilhelm and Genevera (Gaff) Wilhelm-Arnold. 

She graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1966. 

On April 22, 1967, she married Edwin L. Claxton at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Arcola. Janet worked for Weatherhead, GE, Dawn Donuts, Waterfield Mortgage Company and Ash Brokerage and she retired after that.  While working at Dawn Donuts, she started part-time and moved from Manager and in one (1) year was promoted to managing seven (7) stores in Fort Wayne and Auburn, and her last role was franchise representative working in Michigan and supervising the Auburn and Kendallville stores.  She was with Dawn Donuts for 20 years and Waterfield Mortgage Company for 10 years.  She was a lifelong member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Arcola along with the Rosary Society.  

Janet loved gardening, singing at church, reading, and traveling.  Recently she was able to travel overseas.  She was devoted to her family, especially her grandchildren.  Janet will be missed by many, and her family have been told: "If any company has a light in it, she was the light for Dawn Donuts" and "She was a bright star on earth, so she is now a bright star shining above forever."

Janet is survived by her husband, Ed Claxton; son, Scott (Jodi) Claxton; daughter, Denise Claxton all of Columbia City, Indiana; grandchildren, Alecia Patrick, Alexandra (James) Musser, Katriona Banks, Krystal Benzinger, Andrew Conrad, Wyette Conrad, Logan Claxton, and Josephine Claxton; 10 great grandchildren; brothers, James (Karen) Wilhelm, Doyle Wilhelm, Jerome Wilhelm; sisters-in-law, Roberta Bolen, Marie (Roy) McCaulley, Tina (David) Zaugg, Lisa (Edward) Moser, Rebecca (Joel) Tubbs; several nieces and nephews; and numerous great nieces and nephews.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, F. Edward Wilhelm, Genevera (Gaff) Wilhelm-Arnold, her brother, Donald Wilhelm; nephew, Jeremy Wilhelm; niece, Pamela Wilhelm; great nephew, Kane Kinley; sister-in-law, Sandra Kelly; brothers-in-law, Eugene Claxton, Tivis Bolen, and Anthony Patrick Kelly. 

Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sunday, November 26, 2023, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, Indiana with a Rosary recited at 4:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 27, 2023, with calling one hour prior, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Arcola, 12305 Arcola Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Burial will take place at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be given in memory to the Glioblastoma Foundation or for masses for Janet at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Janet's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.

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