Janet Louise Kobelt, aged 95, a Manitowoc resident, passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at St. Mary’s Home at Felician Village, Manitowoc. Janet was born on November 1, 1928 in Calumet Michigan to the late Thomas and Sima Secor. After graduating high school at the age of 16, she attended a Finnish community college in Michigan and completed her nurses training at the University of Illinois in Chicago where she met and married her husband, the late Dr. Carl Kobelt. They moved to Manitowoc in 1962 where they remained and raised their family.
Janet sang in choirs that traveled to Europe, was an accomplished pianist and played organ for First Lutheran church. She was deeply religious and taught Sunday school and conducted adult Bible studies. Janet helped establish the Rosethorn Community Church, a non-denominational church that serves the disadvantaged community in Manitowoc. She was proud of her Finnish heritage and went to every winter and summer Olympics from 1972 to 2008.
Janet was best known for her dry sense of humor, fierce independence, and generous spirit. She could strike up a conversation with nearly anyone she met and readily shared her faith with them.
Survivors include four sons and three daughters-in-law: Kurt (Kellie Kuzdas) Kobelt, Madison; Paul (Paula) Kobelt, Columbus, OH; Tom Kobelt, Chicago; Rudi (Sharon) Kobelt, Clinton, CT; six loving grandchildren who knew her as “Ammi”: Eric, Julia (Kurt), Peter, Maddie, Alex (Paul), and Kyle (Rudi), and beloved nieces, nephews, and other relatives also survive. She was the sister of Stuart (Carol) Secor, Donald (Karen) Secor, and the late Robert (Ginny) Secor.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, 628 N. Water Street, Manitowoc. Officiating at the service will be the Rev. Jason Blahnik. There will be no visitation at the funeral home prior to the service. Following the funeral service, friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life to be held from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at the Manitowoc Yacht Club, 815 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc. The family will greet friends and family at the Celebration of Life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Janet Kobelt’s name may be directed to the Finnish-American Heritage Center, 437 Quincy St. Hancock, MI 49930.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.
