Calico Corners Founder Janet Carol Swenson Dies

The following obituary is courtesy of Wenban Funeral Home.

Janet Carol Swenson (nee Zatik) 77, passed away on August 27, 2015, after a lengthy illness. Jan was the daughter of Julius & Marguerite Zatik and was born in Big Bend, West Virginia, on June 16, 1938. She is the beloved wife of Willis, loving mother of Alison (Kevin) Issel, proud grandmother of Delanie & Payton Issel & Megan Swenson Wiegold and her special daughter-in- law Rebecca Swenson Wiegold and grandson Scott Wiegold. She was preceded in death by her son Patrick and her parents.

Jan, as she is known to her family & friends, moved to Pontiac, Michigan, with her parents. Jan worked for the Board of Education while she was still in high school. She also worked for the Pontiac Press as a proofreader and for GMC. She met and married Willis Swenson and they moved to Lake Forest in 1965 to raise their family. That same year, they opened their first Calico Corners store in West Lake Forest. Together they went on to open numerous other locations in the Chicagoland area and Brookfield, Wisconsin.

At Calico Corners, a decorative fabric store for the home, Jan ran the show, everything from bookkeeping to decorating. She could take something ordinary and make it look spectacular. In 2002, Jan and Willis moved to Buffalo, Wyoming, where they built a beautiful home and enjoyed their retirement. Jan was a world traveler and also enjoyed reading, flowers, collecting antiques, SCUBA diving, skiing and she loved to entertain with friends. Jan was a big supporter of The Boys and Girls Club of The Big Horns, as well as Catholic Charities. Jan and Willis hosted many club events for The Boys and Girls Club at their home in Buffalo, Wyoming.

Jan is also survived by many close friends who loved her dearly and will miss her greatly. Jan had an infectious smile and was always happy, even when faced with her illness, always warm and loving to everyone who crossed her path.

A mass to celebrate Jan’s life will be held on September 3, 2015, at The Church of St. Mary at 201 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest at 10:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Boys and Girls Club of The Big Horns, 58 N. Adams Street, Buffalo, WY 82834.