Janice Streff

Janice G. Streff of Port Washington died Friday, Nov. 23, at Ivy Manor in West Bend. She was 91.  

Mrs. Streff was born in Port Washington on July 14, 1927, to Edward and Gertrude Herman Leak.

She attended public schools and graduated from Port Washington High School.

She married Walter Streff on Oct. 2, 1948. Mr. Streff died in 2014.   

Mrs. Streff was known for her sociability, generosity, endless energy and sense of humor, often joking that she wanted to have her funeral before she died so she could attend it, her daughter, Wendy Harmon said.

“She was a real character,” she said.

Mrs. Streff strongly valued her Roman Catholic faith and was a member of St. John XXIII Parish, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Saukville.  

She was known as “Cookie Grandma” to her grandchildren for always having the cookie jar full.

She also loved to shop and spoil them.

She often volunteered as an election poll worker and at church.

She was known for her cooking and baking gifts and enjoyed knitting slippers, collecting Beanie Babies, fishing with her husband in Door County at Egg Harbor and watching the Packers and Badgers.

She worked throughout her life. Her jobs included waitressing and serving as a matron and cook at the old Ozaukee County Jail in downtown Port Washington.

“She helped the women and she and Jean Helm (Sheriff Art Helm’s wife) would cook and serve meals,” Wendy Harmon said.

 She also worked at Sears and St. Alphonsus Hospital in Port Washington.

She also provided childcare out of her home for her grandchildren and for other people’s children as needed.      

Mrs. Streff is survived by her children Susan Asherman of Milwaukee, Michael (Naoe) of Tampa, Fla., Patrick (Debbie) of  Conover, Wis., Peter of Port Washington, Wendy (Rick) Harmon of West Bend;  grandchildren Monica Thein, Stephanie Streff, Candice Streff, Kelly Streff, Brian Streff, Tory Harmon, Whitney Harmon, Morgan (Steven) Kluck, Luke Streff, Jessie Streff, Gabrielle (Mitch) Parmentier; 10 great-grandchildren: sister Marie Krepsky; and sisters-in-law Renee Streff and Betty Leak.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Edward  and Fritz; sister-in-laws Betsy and Liz; and brothers-in-law Eugene Streff and Lester Streff.  

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, at Eernisse Funeral Home in Cedarburg. Visitation will be held from noon until the time of service at the funeral home.