Janet Mikowski

Janet Lucille (Pleva) Mikowski, 71, of Traverse City went to be with her Jesus on April 17, 2025 after a long battle with Cancer surrounded by her loving family. Janet was born on Oct 8th, 1953, in Traverse City, to the late Leonard and Matilda “Tillie” Pleva. She grew up in Cedar with five siblings, worked at a young age picking cherries and strawberries. Attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and graduated from Glen Lake Hugh School in 1971. At sixteen, she worked at Burry’s Restaurant in Cedar and at eighteen she and her sister Elaine moved to Traverse City, got a job at Chef Pierre where she worked several jobs until she became a Warehouse Inventory Control Clerk and ended her career after 45 years of service in 2017 under the name Tyson Foods.

On October 10, 1980, Janet married Jerry Mikowski, and they had a son, Elijah Matthew, he was her pride and joy.

Janet enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve dinners with family, playing games and Euchre! She so enjoyed playing with her grandchildren, coloring, playing jacks. And she was proud of her flower gardens. To live simple and with things you love! She traveled some, Maui, Florida Keys, New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Vegas, Missouri, but her favorite place was Mackinac Island.

Janet and Duane Groesser were together 26 years and finally wed on May 7th, 2015.

Janet is survived by her husband, Duane; her son, Elijah; stepchildren, Jeff (Errin) Groesser, Julie (Matt) Pollak, Jenny and (Nick) Keeler; Step-grandchildren, Morgan Groesser, Carter, Zachary Pollak, Lydia, Tyler, and Allyson Keeler, sisters; Charlene (Bud) Trower, Paulette Kabot; brothers, Leonard and Larry Pleva, along with nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, a sister and brother-in-law Elaine (Rick) Rountree, brother-in-law Larry Kabot, a niece Miranda Kabot and her paternal, Stephen and Josephine (Witkowski) Pleva and maternal, Felix and Pauline (Narloch) Garvin, grandparents.

She lived by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. She wanted others to know about her Jesus! To have a personal relationship with Him. Lay your burdens at His feet and He will guide you always. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and staff at Cowell Family Cancer Center and Heartland Hospice for the great care they gave to Janet and the love and prayers from family, friends and others.

Visitation will be held at 10 am, Saturday, May 3, 2025 at East Bay Calvary Church, 2225 E. Hammond Rd. Traverse City, MI. 48686 with the funeral service starting at 11:00 am and food reception to follow. Pastor Kit Bogan will be officiating. Interment will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

Contributions may be made to the Holy Rosary Church, Cedar or East Bay Calvary Church. Please visit www.lifesstorytc.com to share your thoughts and more.

Arrangements were done by Life Story Funeral Home.