Janet Vedell

Janet Vedell, of Willmar and formerly of Sacred Heart, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 at Bethesda in Willmar at the age of 84.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Hawk Creek Lutheran Church. Rev. Dan Bowman will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 5-7:00 PM at Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Granite Falls and at the church for one hour before the service.

Janet Kay (Anderson) Vedell was born in Sterling, IL on July 7, 1940 to Harold and Arvilla (Swanson) Anderson. She was baptized on Sept. 8, 1940 at First Lutheran Church of Prophetstown, IL. Janet graduated from Prophetstown High School in 1958 and went to Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. After two years of college, she taught math, spelling, health, PE, and music in the Tampico, IL grade school for two years. She then went back to Augustana to get a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Upon graduation from Augustana, she taught grades 1-8 in Morrison, IL and directed the Morrison Methodist Church Choir. On June 19, 1966 Janet married a Lutheran pastor, Robert Fredrick Vedell of Chesterton, IN.

Robert and Janet began their married life together, teaching and preaching, which brought them to many places. No matter where the ministry brought Bob, Janet was always in demand to teach music. They lived in Coesse, IN, Mattapan, MA, Carrollton, KY, Assiniboia, SK, Canada, Hoffman, MN, New York Mills, MN, Melbourne, KY, Franklin Grove, IL, La Salle, MN, and Sacred Heart, MN. In or near these locations, Janet taught high school band, high school choir, private voice lessons, private piano lessons, Home Start, and K-8 general music. Janet also played the organ and directed choirs for numerous churches and community groups. Janet’s most recent public school teaching position was at Renville County West (formerly BDRSH) from 1997-2003, where she taught elementary general music, junior high choirs, and 9th grade band. She continued to teach piano until 2020 and played organ for Hawk Creek Lutheran Church until 2023. Janet was known to be a music teacher with high expectations, bringing out musical excellence in both her ensembles and individual students. Her ability to develop relationships was unique, and she infused fun into both the classroom and performance settings. Her joy and passion for music left a lasting impression on countless students across generations.

Bob and Janet had three children – Peter Thomas and Kathleen Marie, born in Carrollton, KY and Kirsten Mary, born in Assiniboia, SK, Canada. Janet was a stellar mom and grandma. She brought her energetic personality to family events and everyday interactions. She organized fun gatherings that often included hearty meals and joyful activities.

Janet had boundless creativity and enjoyed a variety of hobbies. In her childhood years near Prophetstown, IL, Janet loved helping her dad on the farm, playing baseball with her siblings, and singing duets with her sister, Ruth. Later, Janet shared a musical bond with her husband, Bob. Together, they recorded an album titled God Is Love, which featured 12 songs. Janet enjoyed yardwork, gardening, construction work, painting outdoor scenes, arranging music, babysitting the grandchildren and attending their events. She continued golfing with her brothers well into her 70s. She was one of the first leaders of SAIL (formerly Bone Builders) in Sacred Heart and appreciated all the friendships and laughter.

In August 2023, Janet moved to Bethesda in Willmar as she lived with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in her later years. The staff and volunteers at Bethesda enjoyed spending time with Janet. Her husband was with her every day.

Janet is survived by her husband, Robert Vedell of Willmar, MN, brothers Paul (Cathy) Anderson of Alamogordo, NM, Robert (Sharon) Anderson of Prophetstown, IL, Brother-in-law, Gary Villarreal of Deforest, WI, daughters: Kathleen (Eric) Froland of Sacred Heart, MN, and Kirsten (Christian) Hanninen of Shakopee, MN and grandchildren: Thomas Froland of Ortonville, MN, Tony Froland of Sioux Falls, SD, Tyler Froland of Sacred Heart, MN, Calista Hanninen, Caden Hanninen, and Bodie Hanninen, (Hanninens from Shakopee, MN), and nieces and nephews. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ruth Villarreal, son Peter Vedell, and nephew Thomas Anderson.

Blessed be her memory.