Celebrating the county’s most recent centenarian

A group gathered at the Noridge Trail home of Port Washington’s Barbara Bode on June 22 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Bee Janssen, a longtime Mequon resident who has lived at NewCastle Place for the past 13 years. Helping Bee celebrate were (front row, from left) Kathy Maglio, who held Bee’s cake, Cherry Watts, Bee and Miss Wisconsin 2022 Angelica Niemann. Bee was born on June 25, 1923, to George and Gladys Meyers Van Pelt. She met Gustav Janssen at a USO dance during World War II, and the couple were married for 65 years. Bee graduated from the University of Wisconsin and was the state manager for a religious organization for years. The birthday party was organized by members of P.E.O., a philanthropic organization that celebrates the advancement of women, that Bee has been a member of for more than 50 years. The Ozaukee County chapter is one of 13 throughout Wisconsin that promotes women’s education.               Photo by Sam Arendt