Janet VanderPlaats

Janet Mae VanderPlaats was born on February 25, 1929 to Fred and Laura (Foley) Wollmuth on the family farm in Gray Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. At the age of 10 her family moved to Hatfield, Minnesota. She attended and graduated from Pipestone High School. During her high school years, she worked at the Hollyhock Ballroom in Hatfield as a waitress; it was there that she met her future husband, Gerald VanderPlaats. The two were united in marriage on November 23, 1946 at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. In 1956, Janet was sworn in as the Postmaster of Hatfield until 1988 when she was transferred and became the Postmaster in Woodstock, Minnesota. She retired in 1992 after 36 years of service as Postmaster. During her working years she also became the clerk for Hatfield’s City Council from 1985 to 2018, even as she approached the age of 90. Janet was a proud member of the Hatfield community and lived in her home there for 86 years. Recently, Janet struggled with some health challenges and entered the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota. She passed away peacefully there on Monday, March 31, 2025, at the age of 96 years, one month, and six days.

Janet was an avid bowler, bowling on two leagues (Monday afternoons and Friday evenings). She enjoyed playing cards and was in two different “500” clubs. She belonged to the CBS Club, Golden Kiwanis Club, and the Pipestone Golden Club. She was proud to be one of the few Hatfield First Responders for many years. She was also a 4-H club leader for a time in her younger years. Janet was a lifelong member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. She was a part of a church circle, counted offerings, and taught Sunday School during her children’s younger years.

She is lovingly remembered by her children, Gerald “Jerry” VanderPlaats of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Pat (Dan) Carstensen of Trosky, Minnesota, and William “Bill” (Tami) VanderPlaats of Pipestone; 14 grandchildren, Rebecca (Kevin) Perkins, Kristie (Jeff Layer) Johnson, Aaron (Dianne) VanderPlaats, Mark (Casey Sommers) O’Connor, Shawn Mills, Thomas (Stacie) VanderPlaats, Tamara Gronbach, Janna (Matt) Havel, Kory Krempges, Kyle Krempges, Keith Krempges, Janelle (Lance) Sagataw, Cassie (Jed) Woitaszewski, and Logan (fiancé, Mariah Vikander) VanderPlaats; 23 great-grandchildren, Nick, KayLynn, Amber (Aaron), Grant, Damion, Deagen, Emma, Raegan, Jack, Kamryn, Ella, Adlee, Axton, Watson, Jerica, Makaden, Jonathan, Gemma, Larry, Jesse, Marissa, Madison, and Joshua; one great-great-granddaughter, Laura; one sister-in-law, Genevieve VanderPlaats; daughters-in-law, Teresa VanderPlaats and Janice Wandansega; son-in-law, Bernie (Julie) Krempges. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; four sons, James, Kenneth, John, and Thomas; daughter, Penny, daughters-in-law, Carol VanderPlaats and Eileen VanderPlaats; eight brothers, George, Fred, Joseph, Arthur, Theodore, Leo, Billy, and Tommy; five sisters, Margarete Wollmuth, Agnes Allen, Mary Cupp, Louise Hunter, and Dorothy Loger; several nieces and nephews; and her close friend, Rosie McGinty.