Janet R. Degner

Visitation for Janet Ruth (nee Shepherd) Degner, 88, of Palatine, will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, October 21, 2024, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy., Palatine, Illinois. The Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, Palatine.

Janet passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, on Saturday, October 12, 2024. She was born March 17, 1936, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Frederick and Gertrude Shepherd. Janet grew up on the family dairy farm, raising and showing her own calves and sheep; then went to the University of Wisconsin at Madison. There she earned her bachelor's degree, met a young Marine veteran, political-science major; and then married him; her lifelong partner, Waldon (Wally) Degner, in 1959.

They moved to Palatine in 1961, and soon Janet and Wally were raising a family and becoming involved in all aspects of their community. Janet worked as a substitute teacher with District 15, was active in Jaycees, and brought the kids to the St. Paul United Church of Christ Church, every Sunday. When she learned Palatine did not have a 4-H club she started one. Later she became a Kinder Care director, then a regional director, then a local Executive Director for United Way. In recent decades, Janet was also very active with the Palatine Historical Society, American Legion Post 690, the Questers' Antique Club, and she always volunteered as an election judge.

In 2022, after over 62 years of marriage, Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Wally. She is survived by her daughter, Amy (Tom) Kenna, sons, Curt (Sheila) Degner and Carl Degner; and grandchildren, Kyle, Madeline, Fiona, Camden, Frank, Rose, Kaia, Koen, Bella and Marlena.