Janie Ann Lancaster Hieb, aged 87 years, passed away peacefully at the Grandview Care
Center in Blair, Wisconsin, on July 7, 2023, surrounded by family.
She was born January 20, 1936, in Bloomington, Illinois, to Thomas and Marcella
Lancaster. Janie married Warren Hieb on November 12, 1955, in Henry, Illinois. Janie is
survived by her eight children: Cynthia (Dan) Olson of Black River Falls, WI, Thomas (Kathy)
Hieb of Flagstaff, AZ, Timothy Hieb of Ham Lake, MN, Jeffrey (Rebecca) Hieb of Waldo, WI,
Matthew (Bridget) Hieb of River Falls, WI, Michael (Nedra) Hieb of Milwaukee, WI, Susanna
(Najib) Schlosstein of Arcadia, WI, Daniel (Traci) Hieb of Eau Claire, WI, 25 grandchildren and
6 great grandchildren. Janie is also survived by her 3 sisters Judy Bogner, Janet Schultz, Sally
Smallwood, her brother Michael Lancaster and her special friend Roger Kaufman.
Janie was preceded in death by her baby daughter Mary, her parents Thomas and
Marcella Lancaster and her husband Warren.
Janie attended college in Normal, Illinois and was very proud of her career as a writer
and speaker. Her legacy and humor lives on in the pages of her books, magazines, monthly
columns and newspaper articles. She was known for her quick wit, compelling charm, and gentle
soul. If you knew Janie you also knew that she was passionate about her many favorite things. One of those favorite things was The Sound of Music. Its yearly broadcast was a mandatory event
in the Hieb household.
In the spirit of The Sound of Music, here are a few of Janie’s “favorite things”… rocking
babies, being a mom, Warren, music (especially bluegrass), Wisconsin in June, blue gingham,
wild flowers and even wilder gardens, old fixer-upper houses, wallpaper, country roads, ice
cream, popcorn, a new litter of pigs, farms and farm life, a houseful of children (especially her
own), and entertaining and captivating an audience with written and spoken stories. Simply
remember her favorite things and then you won’t feel so sad.
Janie will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Please remember the joy and love
she brought to everyone she knew. Take a moment to read her stories and relive her many
adventures; most of them humorous and always heartfelt. She was a very special woman and we
are all better for having known her.
Janie bravely battled Parkinson’s disease for many years. Her family is encouraging
donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in her memory at give.michaeljfox.org
Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin on
Tuesday, July 18th at 11 am. Visitation will be from 10 until the time of service.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona, WI, is assisting the family. Online condolences may
be shared at http://www.cremationsociety-wi.com.
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