Janice, “The Queen” and unofficially the former Mayor of Gas City, 83, passed away surrounded by her family on Sunday, October 15, 2017. She was born in Huntington, West Virginia on October 30, 1933 to Herbert Hal and Virginia L. (Black) Johnson. Her family came to Jonesboro in 1939.
Throughout her young life she participated in many school activities and graduated from Mississinewa High School in 1951. On November 1, 1952 she married Eugene Linn. Mayor “Beaner” Linn preceded her in death on February 11, 2001. Together, they began their life in Gas City where their lasting legacy will live forever.
Janice had a steadfast rule that her family always came first. She was a community champion second. In her early years she served as a Girl Scout and Brownie leader for 18 years. Later she served on the Gas City Park Board and was a driving force for getting the Old Fashioned July Fourth celebration started. Janice’s generosity and commitment to her community led her to become one of the original founders of Gas City We Care that she proudly represented for 37 years. She was also a member of the Grant County Democrat Women and the Gas City Historical Society. She was a recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash award for her dedication to her Hoosier community.
Her commitment to family and her community will be remembered by all those hearts she touched with her sense of humor, orneriness and great generosity. She was a true treasure of determination and dedication.
Janice is survived by five children, Kem E. Linn, David P. (Cindy) Linn and Jamie J. (Steve) Eckstein, all of Gas City; Mickey S. (Jim) Cain and Linda L. (Ted) Pearce, Upland; six grandchildren, Laura L. Eckstein, Upland; John Linn, Seattle, Washington; Kyle (Carley) Linn, Kaitlin Linn, Emilee Smith and Sophee Eckstein, all of Gas City; five great-grandchildren, Gracie Linn, Joseph Linn, Zachary Linn, Emersyn Linn and Milee’a Eckstein; two brothers, Richard P. Johnson, Holiday, Florida; Dennis R. (Linda) Johnson, Gas City; sister-in-law, Virginia Joann “Shorty” Frame, Gas City.
She is also preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Hal Johnson and Virginia L. (Arthur F.) Kem; brother, Hal Johnson, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Lavada “Pink” Kem.
The celebration of Janice’s life will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, October 19, 2017 in Owen-Weilert-Duncan Funeral Home, Gas City Chapel, 200 North 7th Street, Gas City, Indiana with Pete McPherson officiating. The burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2pm-7pm, Wednesday, October 18, 2017 in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gas City We Care, c/o Betty Harris, 1062 Walnut Creek Lane, Gas City, Indiana 46933. Grant County Humane Society, 505 S Miller Ave., Marion, Indiana 46953.