Janice Leona Madsen Weinheimer

Janice Leona Madsen Weinheimer passed away at her home in American Fork, UT on Sunday March 6, 2023.  She was 86 years old.

Janice was born January 11, 1937 in Pocatello, ID to Leona Gertrude Ferrell and Alonzo Franklin Madsen. After a brief stay in Pocatello, she moved with her family to North Salt Lake and then to Lehi, UT where she attended high school. Janice had many fond memories of Lehi and loved the view of Mt. Timpanogos.

Janice received early admission to the University of Utah at age 16 and later attended Brigham Young University, where she met her husband, Gerald Weinheimer and graduated in secondary education with an emphasis in business. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 13, 1957. She and Gerald raised 9 children together in Salt Lake City, Bountiful, Glendale, AZ and then back to South Jordan, UT.  

Janice wrote a book about raising children, published by Deseret Book in 1979 called “Families are Forever…If I Can Just Get Through Today.”  After raising two sets of twins and a set of triplets with two single births, she had plenty of experience and methods for child-rearing to share.  She was a talented professional seamstress.  She made suits and wedding dresses that were designer quality and admired by all.  She also worked many years as an administrator at the Jewish Kol Ami religious school in Salt Lake City.  She loved working there and became a favorite of the staff and students.

She loved cooking for her family.  Every year at Christmas was a huge undertaking, making homemade chocolates, candies and pastries for close family and friends.  She did this every year including this past year.  She also organized an annual family reunion for her kids and grandchildren.  This was the most favorite time of year for her and many of her posterity.

Despite childhood traumas and illnesses, she was resourceful and optimistic about life and worked hard daily to improve herself.  She was a lifelong learner and was always taking classes up until her passing. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, two grandchildren and all but one of her siblings(Venice). She is also survived by her nine children-Beckie, Debbie and Russell Eric (twins), Kerry and Kyle (twins), Jackie, Julie, and Wendy (triplets), and Tanya, also 37 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 25th at 3:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 270 North 900 East in American Fork, UT.  No viewing or visitation will be held.