Leonard "Len" J. Janis, 78, of Fulton, Illinois left us on January 18, 2016 to go to heaven and join other family members and many friends. Honoring his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded with a Funeral Mass taking place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, at Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Clinton. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p. m. on Friday, January 22, at the Church. Burial will take place at a later date. Lemke Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements.
This wonderful husband, father, and friend left us all with so many great memories. He was born on July 30, 1937 the son of Florian and Marie (Jaskot) Janiszewski in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after he was born they moved to Thorp, Wisconsin where they lived on the Jaskot family farm. At the age of 13 Len's family moved him back to Chicago and he entered St. Ignatius High School. Len enjoyed life, and always wanted to fly a plane. At the age of 16, his father started him with flying lessons at Midway Airport. Upon graduation from High School, Len was accepted in the ROTC program and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, where he graduated with a Bachelors of accounting. Flying he did as he entered the Air Force as First Lt. and became the squadron leader for six years in active duty. He was stationed in Italy and flew many missions in Europe during peace time years.
When Len's time ended in the military, he fell in love and married Barbara Janiak of February 1, 1964 - she died in July 2004. Together they had three children - Karen, Kenny and Kelli. Len became a pilot for American Airlines and as he always said, being away on the long flights, that he did often, was not good for a young guy in love with his children, so he began a new career working for Gallagher and Henry Construction Company. Len became the Manager of the company and many subdivisions in the suburbs of Chicago were built under his leadership. After 23 years of good hard work there, he and Barbara decided to move to Neshkoro, Wisconsin and they purchased, The Timbers Supper Club. This was truly a business he and his wife enjoyed owning and operating until 2002 when Barbara became ill.
Another chapter of their lives would begin and they moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. After the move he purchased "The Brodhead Trap Club" and owned and operated it until October of 2015. Len would find love again and married another Barbara on April 13, 2007. They moved to a town called Fulton, Illinois that he had never heard of. Len has met and made so many friends in Fulton and Clinton, Iowa because that was his nature - "if you knew Len, you loved Len". He and Barb own and operate Windmill Realty where he worked as a realtor, and did a lot of the accounting work as well.
Len did not, "burn any daylight"! He jumped right in and became a member of the Fulton Kiwanis Club. He was elected as the Club's President during his 2nd year as a member, and the following year was voted the club's Kiwanian of the Year. Len started a 30 to Win Raffle that enabled the club to purchase clothing for many needy children in the Riverbend School District. He ran it for nine years, even through 2015. The Kiwanis Club will certainly miss his "can do" attitude.
Len had another passion, that was to continue to continue to belong to the Knights of Columbus. He was a 4th degree Knight, and proudly served for Monsignor Leo J. Finney Chapter as the Comptroller up until his death. Len had a strong Catholic faith and displayed that many times by his actions and through his volunteer work. He was a proud member of Prince of Peace Parish in Clinton, Iowa where he was active as a gift bearer and served in many capacities, such as helping the Auxiliary Ladies with their annual dinner.
Len liked to bowl so he sponsored a team at Tripple Play Bowling Alley in Fulton. He enjoyed his Thursday nights out with the guys and bowled for 7 years with his team. Being around people was just something that he enjoyed so much.
In April of 2015, Len was elected Alderman of the 3rd Ward serving on the City Council of Fulton, until he decided he needed to resign because of health reasons on January 1, 2016. Len worked hard to get elected as a "write in" candidate and proudly won the election and served with great privilege and honor.
His children reiterated that fact that their Dad worked very hard, and always enjoyed his time away from work as well. Len and Barbara like to travel and they did so to many places with their cousins, Ted and Claudine Snow. Together the couples visited Aruba, and after being there only once, they purchased a time share and for 50 consecutive years it was just about the only place he wanted to go for a nice leisurely vacation. The people of Aruba looked at Len as an islander and over 20 years ago he started "The Friends of the Handicapped" project. His goal was to raise as close to $100,000 each year to help the children and families less fortunate. Of course, he worked hard to succeed and did so! He was called Mr. Personality, and no matter where he traveled, someone knew him.
At the Janis household there was always room for everyone who wanted dinner or a place to stay. Greg Medema came home with son Kenny one day and was going to stay with them for 2 weeks. Eight years later he left when he got married. Others came a lot as well, Brian Screens, whose name was changed to Kurt, Gail Zwolinske who became Katie when she visited. You see everyone who lived at their home had to have their names begin with a "K".
Len is survived by his wife - Barbara Suehl-Janis, three children - Karen Battiato and Kenny Janis of LaGrange Highlands, IL, and Kelli (Mike) Dopp of Almond, WI; four step children - Fred (Wendy) Suehl of Summerville, SC, Kathy (Tarek Farmer) Suehl of Rockford, IL, Brent (Amanda) Fisher of Clinton, IA and Alle (Mirco Reimer) Suehl of Osnabruck, Germany; four grandchildren - Emily and Joey Janis, Alec and Isaac Doop; five step grandchildren - T.J. Famer, Helena Fisher, Paige and Cody Plumb and Nate Suehl; two special Aunts - Eleanor Spal and Adeline Sosniki of Woodruff, WI.
Len is also survived by Michael and Janet Graf, Greg and Barbara Graf, Elizabeth Weets, Ray Fortier, Jane Brown, Christine and Craig Williams; brother and sister in-laws and their respective families.
Len has lots of friends from our community and a very special couple, Chris Meyers and Angela Henry who have been with us every single day since his diagnosis in July. These two people gave so much love and care to Len, I know he would want to personally thank them if he could do so; Larry Russell, who sat with him and visited on a daily basis to be there whenever he was needed. Deacon Jeff Schuetzle, Dan and Teresa Waters, Deacon Ray Hilgendorf, Cousins - Richard and Suellen Olsen, friends - Ann and Marcia Cremer and Bonnie Carstens, Elsie King, Father Ken and Father Bob, and Annette Lyons. Both Heidi's, his hospice nurses, and all who have been with him during his journey home.
I know he would want to mention his dear friends from his Trap Club - Larry and Linda Nemec, Bert and Linda Johnson, Chet Newman, Chuck and Keith McClintock, Brad and Corina, Larry Luttenager, Al Arner and so so many more that were true friends for the 13 years he owned the club - you are all so special.
Len has many cousins that he dearly loved and will want remembered that have been such a big part of his life.
To his Brother Knights - he bids farewell.
His family wants to say, goodbye to Leonard DeJackamo Pokinati Strunz the III. For any of you who first met him and asked him his name, we are pretty sure that was probably his answer.
Preceding Len in death were his parents, his first wife Barbara, his in-laws, his brother Raymond, several aunts and uncles and a very special "adopted" son - Steve Siedlazek, who passed away in December 23, 2012, his son in-law - Alan Battiato who died in May 2007.
A memorial fund has been established to the Prince of Peace Building Fund.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leonard "Len" Janis, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.