Janet L. Compagner

In the early morning hours of January 18, 2026, Janet Lynn Compagner, 83, of Holland MI, peacefully slipped into the arms of Jesus. Finally free after years of battling a variety of health issues that prevented her from living the life she once enjoyed. Janet was born to Edward A. and Margaret K. Spruit on May 7, 1942. Janet thought the world of her father and was devastated by his death in 1961. She spoke fondly of her memories of hunting and fishing with him, and word has it that he taught her to be an excellent fish cleaner. Janet graduated from Holland Christian High where she enjoyed being a majorette. Throughout her life, she loved to learn and read. She never obtained a degree but took numerous classes at various colleges and universities over the years. In her later years, you could always find her with a People magazine or the Wallstreet Journal. In 1962 she married John J. Compagner and together, for better and for worse, they embarked on the adventure of military life. Over the course of 18 years, they lived in Fulda, Germany; Monterrey, California; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Augusta, Georgia; Fort Worth, Texas; Oahu, Hawaii, and finally Savannah, Georgia before returning to Michigan after John retired and finally landing back in Holland. Janet and John celebrated 63 years of marriage in late December. In earlier years, Janet enjoyed traveling. There were numerous trips to Chicago to shop or see the airshows with family and friends; she loved Christmas shopping in Chicago as well as trips to Florida, New York, Mexico, and the Keys with her sister Jean DeNeff and late brother-in-law Dave DeNeff. Janet worked a number of jobs in her lifetime; waitressing, picking vegetables, nurse aide, and sales until finally retiring from J.C. Penney’s. Her greatest “work” was being a wife to John, a mother to her daughter Yvette who was born in 1968, and a grandmother to her beloved granddaughters; Bayleigh Cole, Zoe Zautner, and Mara Arnett. Janet was always actively involved in various activities in her daughter’s life, including Girl Scouts, and enjoyed attending activities for her granddaughters in earlier years. Janet was an expert shopper and party planner. She enjoyed lavishing her husband, daughter, and granddaughters with her fashion finds. She helped to plan a fair number of memorable parties and the American Legion in Holland. Janet was a force to be reckoned with. She was incredibly loving, kind, generous, quick to forgive, and tended to see the best in people. It is safe to say that she had an impact on each person she encountered. Her lifelong mantra was, “Smile! Jesus loves you!”. Jent will be deeply missed by her husband John, daughter Yvette, and granddaughters Bayleigh, Zoe, and Mara. Their lives will never be the same. Janet is survived by her sister Jean Deneff, brother John Spruit (Gayle), Brother-in-law Roger Compagner (Rita), Brother-in-law Keith Compagner (Kathy), Brother-in-law Kevin (Evonne), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and family friends. A heartfelt thank you to Hospice of Holland for the phenomenal care and support they provided in her last weeks of life. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Holland. “Though we need to weep your loss, You dwell in that safe place in our hearts, Where no storm or night or pain can reach you. Your love was like the dawn Brightening over our lives, Awakening beneath the dark A further adventure of color. The sound of your voice Found for us A new music That brightened everything. Whatever you enfolded in your gaze Quickened in the joy of its being, You placed smiles like flowers On the altar of the heart. Your mind always sparkled With wonder at things. Though your days here were brief, Your spirit was alive, awake, complete. We look toward each other no longer From the old distance of our names; Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, As close to us as we are to ourselves. Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face, Smiling back at us from within everything To which we bring our best refinement. Let us not look for you only in memory, Where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, Besides us when beauty brightens, When kindness glows And music echoes eternal tones. When orchids brighten the earth, Darkest winter has turned to spring; May this dark grief flower with hope In every heart that loves you. May you continue to inspire us: To enter each day with a generous heart. To serve the call of courage and love Until we see your beautiful face again In that land where there is no more separation, Where all tears will be wiped from our mind, And where we will never lose you again. ~John O’Donohue

Tributes

Janet L. Compagner

May 7, 1942 - January 18, 2026