Janet Louise Heise

Janet Louise (Brown) Heise, 76, valiantly fought pancreatic cancer since she was diagnosed at the end of February 2019 until she passed away January 18, 2020 in the nursing home wing of Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center.

The memorial service that was previously scheduled for 1pm, Saturday, March 21 at Mankato Mortuary has been CANCELED and private family services will be held.

Janet was born December 21, 1943 to Frederick Brown and Dorothy (Stull) Brown in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. She moved with her family to Ypsilanti, Michigan after graduating from high school. She began her university studies at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, where she began her Major in Spanish. She met Karl Heise in a Spanish Literature class in the fall of 1962, and the pair were married in Ypsilanti a year later on November 27, 1963. Janet transferred to Michigan State University in September 1964 where Karl was awarded a Fellowship to pursue graduate studies in Spanish. Janet was an outstanding student. On several occasions, she was invited by the President of the University to dinners that recognized exceptional students. After earning her BA in 1966 with a Major in Spanish and a Minor in English, she accepted a position in Owosso, MI to teach Spanish and English. The following year, she became a Spanish and English Teacher in Holt, MI, which was close to her home with Karl in Lansing, MI. When Karl accepted a position in 1967 to teach Spanish at Albion College, MI, she and Karl relocated to Albion. Janet then taught Spanish and English in Jackson, MI. Wherever she was a teacher, she received many accolades from her supervisors and earned tenure in Jackson. Janet and Karl lived in Morelia, Mexico during the summers of 1969 and 1972 where Karl was Director of a Spanish Study Abroad program for Albion College.

Janet left teaching in favor of becoming a full-time homemaker and mother after her and Karl’s son Erich was born in 1970. Erich was joined by his sisters Karla in 1973 and Wendi in 1976. That same year, her family moved to Mankato, MN, where Karl accepted a position to teach Spanish at Mankato State University. During her 43 years as a resident of Mankato, Janet made many friends who appreciated her intelligence and kind and amiable personality. Janet loved to drive her red Mustang Convertible. Janet’s happiest times were when she was with her family during holidays and summers at the family’s lake place in northern Minnesota. She loved to sit on the deck and watch the loons, swans, ducks and other wildlife and to ride in the pontoon boat on the beautiful lake. She and her children made many visits to Mexico where Karl coordinated a Spanish Study Abroad program. With Karl, she also visited Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Karl Heise; her son, Erich Heise; Erich’s daughters, Katherine Heise and Jackaline Heise; Erich’s wife, Ana Cecilia Cunha de Paola; Ana Cecilia’s daughter, Giovanna de Paola; her daughter, Karla (Heise) Dainius; Karla’s husband, Jonas Dainius; their daughter Emilija Dainius; and son Kazimir Dainius; her daughter, Wendi Heise; her brother, Daniel Brown; and several cousins. Her love for her family was boundless and will be cherished forever.