Janis Blackford 12/19/2016

Janis Carol Kopp was born on December 28th, 1956 to Byron and Shirley Kopp in Dubuque, Iowa. She graduated from Grantsburg High School in Grantsburg, WI in 1975. She graduated from University of Wisconsin in River Falls with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1981. Janis was in college when her mother told her to come home on the weekends to meet this nice guy who was attending their church. That nice guy, John Charles Blackford, became her husband on June 14th, 1980. They had 4 children together: Jeremy Blackford (Becca Urmann), Jeffrey (Lisa Blackford), Jason (Jessica Blackford), and Joy Jewell (Josh Jewell). They have 7 grandkids: Sam, Jake. Kaitlyn, Henry, Micah, Caleb and Eva. She attended church at The River, in River Falls, WI and was loved by her amazing church family. Janis fought a long battle with cancer that ended with lung infections and septic shock. Janis went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday evening, December 19th, 2016 at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota surrounded by family and friends.  A Celebration of Janis’ Life was held Friday, December 23, 2016 at 11 am at the First Covenant Church 1374 N Main Street River Falls, WI.  Visitation was on Thursday, December 22, 2016 from 4-8 pm at the Bakken-Young Funeral Home 805 E Division Street River Falls, WI and on Friday from 10-11 am at the church.  Interment was in the Union Cemetery in rural Luck, WI.  Please wear bright festive colors as we will be celebrating Janis’ life.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of River Falls.