Janice (Potter) Vandonkelaar's Obituary
A good friend and dedicated wife and mother, Janice Linn VanDonkelaar, age 64, of Bellbrook, passed away Friday, August 14th, 2020.
Janice was born in Montgomery, Alabama on October 29th,1955 to Major Ret. Norman Potter PhD and Mary (Wallace) Potter. She earned an Associate's Degree in Medical Records Technology from Sinclair Community College and became employed with the Sycamore Hospital Quality Assurance Utilization Review. She later retired from the Bellbrook/Sugarcreek School District where she worked as a Teacher's Aide.
Janice loved working with her hands and doing all types of arts and crafts. She often used her imaginative spirit to create works of art and useful objects with polymer clay. She was even a founding member of the Dayton Polymer Clay Guild. Janice also enjoyed traveling; from camping in Michigan to flying overseas to Germany, she enjoyed the adventures she took with her husband, Jon. Together they visited Alaska, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, John Pennencamp Park in Florida, Mexico, and many other fun destinations. She enjoyed going to festivals, especially celtic festivals, because she was proud to be a Wallace. Janice spent much of her time reading books and caring for her family and friends. She was a good friend to have, and she will be deeply missed.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Major Ret. Norman Potter PhD and Mary (Wallace) Potter.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Jon L. VanDonkelaar, children Ian W. VanDonkelaar and Matthew S. (Samantha) VanDonkelaar, grandchild Alvin Carpenter, brothers Steven J. Potter and Jeffrey C. Potter, niece Michelle Potter, nephew Daniel Potter, grand nephews Jay Hoops and Kayden Potter, in-laws Terry and Sharon VanDonkelaar and Tim and Carol Mertz, and special friends Virginia Wilson, Bill and Lorna Stack, Lisa Dorn, Don and Irma Collins, Debbie and AJ
Armstrong-Williams, Brenda and Harvey Burke, Debbie and Norm Kelly, Petra Nieuwenhuize, Dick and Judy
Russell, Trixie and Jeff Shults, Ron and Andrea Volkerding, Joellen Overstreet, Cindy and Randy Wilson, and Dee and Phil Johnson.
Services held in honor of Janice will take place at a later date. Details will be updated here.
To help the family celebrate her life you are invited to use Janice's online Book of Memories to share photos, condolences, and memories on her tribute wall at www.ConnerAndKoch.com.
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