Janet Vlasic

Jan Vlasic’s life was an example of hard work, loyalty, dedication, and family. The second of four children (Jeffrey A. Koller, Janet Lynn Vlasic, Daniel J. Koller, and Linda J. Hyerdall) she was born in LaGrange Park, Illinois to Carmella and Daniel Koller. Her childhood was filled with drinking water from the garden hose, picking fresh tomatoes straight out of the family garden, riding bikes around town with her friends all day, and a street lamp curfew. After attending Elementary School District No. 102 she advanced to Lyons Township High School where she excelled in both academics and athletics. She met her high school sweet heart William S. Vlasic. (Bill).

Being the strong, dedicated, hard working woman she grew up to be, she had a vision for her future. After meeting Bill they quickly married and moved to Virginia where she was stationed after joining the Marine Corp. and lived together on base. After serving in the Marine Corp. she attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Methods Degree. She graduated college and her newborn daughter was at her graduation.

She and her husband opened up a business together making machine parts, she began working and spending most of her career at Sears Roebuck and Company working in the corporate office as an analytical and quality assurance tester of computer software. Working at the Sears Tower in the city of Chicago she would joke occasionally about not going into work on cloudy days because she couldn’t see the floor she worked on. Eventually the company moved out of the Sears Tower to Hoffman Estates, Illinois and she worked there until 2007.

Building her family with her husband they had four children together (Justin, Lori, Randy, and Chris) her first born died just a week after he was born which was the first of many challenges for their marriage. They lived in Berwyn, LaGrange Park and eventually settled into their final home, in Keeneyville, IL that she would spend the rest of her life in. Family and friends would come over and have good times together. She also enjoyed camping, going to the beach and watching a good show at the theater. She was a die-hard cubs fan. She never gave up hope that they would win the World Series and was elated when she was able to attend the World Series the year that they won in 2016.

Though Bill and her divorced in 1999 they remained close friends. She is survived by her daughter Lori Anne (Jason Arthur) Kirchheimer and sons William Randal (Tracy Lynne)Vlasic and Christopher Martin Vlasic, her three grandchildren Evangeline Marie Vlasic, William Randal Vlasic Jr. and Marissa Sadie Kirchheimer, all of her siblings, and is welcomed into loving arms into her heavenly home by her parents that proceeded her and her eldest son, Justin Vlasic.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Toys For Tots Charity

Memorial Mass Saturday June 5, 2021 at 10:00am at St Julian Eymard Catholic Church, 601 Biesterfield Rd., Elk Grove Village. Info www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com or (630)529-5751