Janet Barbara Nelson

Janet Barbara (Wojciechowski) Nelson, 75, passed away on August 18, 2024, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, from complications from Multiple Sclerosis.

Jan's life will be celebrated at 11:30 AM, September 18, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church in Little Falls, Minnesota, with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating. Pastors Larry Johnson, DeAnn Block and Don Block, who are all cousins, will be participating. 

A Committal Service will follow at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley Minnesota, at 1:00 PM followed by a lunch at the church.

Jan was born at St. Gabriel's Hospital, Little Falls, Minnesota, to Sylvester and Lorraine (Roble) Wojciechowski. She graduated from Little Falls Senior High with the Class of 1967, and attended St Cloud Vocational School the following year.

Jan and Douglas Nelson were married in Little Falls on October 11, 1969. They started their life together in Little Falls, moving to Cambridge, Minnesota, in 1971. Doug and Jan fell in love with Colorado when visiting friends, and in 1981 moved to the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado.

While living in Minnesota Jan found found an interest in showing dogs, first with Basset Hounds and later Dalmatians for 35 years under the kennel name Harmony Dalmatians. 

Jan overcame three cancer diagnoses, and in 2004 learned she had Multiple Sclerosis. Jan got her first service dog, Laker, in 2008 and a successor service dog, Willa, in 2014.

Jan is survived by her husband, Douglas Nelson and service dog, Willa; brother, Donald (Karen) Wojciechowski; sister, Dianne Lang; sister, Jeanine (Richard) Post, several nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends across the country.

Preceded in death by parents Sylvester and Lorraine Wojciechowski, father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Beatrice Nelson, and many beloved dogs.

A special thank you to all of the caregivers who helped Jan during the past year.

Memorials may be sent in memory of Jan to the MS Society, Colorado, Helping Paws, Inc. in Minnesota, and the Dalmatian Club of America Foundation (DCAF).

Jan - Our hearts are broken. Words cannot describe how much we love you and will miss you. We will see you and your beautiful smile again on the other side of the stars.