Janet Gwilt

Janet’s life began Christmas eve, 1928 the daughter of Herbert and Mildred M. (Nash) Fox. She is a 1946 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. Janet was united in marriage to Gordon Gwilt on October 5, 1951 at the First United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo. She and Gordy owned and operated Gwilt’s Paint Store in Dowagiac for many years. Janet was a sister of Alpha Epsilon Master- Chapter Beta Sigma Phi in Dowagiac. She was a member of the First Christian Church, the Civitan Club, the 728 Club and she held a “Masters in Motherhood” for beautifully raising nine children with Gordy. Her loving family includes her husband of 61 years Gordon Gwilt of Dowagiac, children Sally (Terry) Matthews of Dowagiac, Ed (Juanita) Gwilt of Grosse Pointe Park, Julie (Larry) Hewitt of Dowagiac, Peggy (Bruce) Willis of Dowagiac, Mimi (Cort) Otterbein of Birmingham, Nancy (Rob) Northrop of Dowagiac, Tom (Sue) Gwilt of Dowagiac, Tony (Jennifer) Gwilt of Troy and Joe Gwilt of Dowagiac; grandchildren Lisa (Gregg) Matthews-Speaks, Ron (Heidi Behnke) Matthews, Phillip and Patrick Nauert, Laura, Katie and Clay Hewitt, Rebecca Willis, Bruce Willis, Jr, Rachael (John) Willis- Fountain, Ashley Willis, Kyle, Kelsey and Keith Otterbein, Jeromy Northrop, Claire, Meghan and Gordy Gwilt; great grandchildren Drew and Anna Speaks, and a brother Thomas (Michiko) Fox of Bonita Springs, FL. Janet passed away on Tuesday January 22, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She is preceded in death by a grandson Mark Anthony Willis in 1980. Her family will gather with friends on Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Yazel & Clark Chapel where her sorority sister’s will pay tribute to her at 7 p.m. Friday. Her funeral service will be held at the First Christian Church in Dowagiac at 11 a.m. on Saturday. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Janet’s name may be directed to the First Christian Church. Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Janet at www.yazel-clark.com.