Janet Elaine Klemm

Janet E. Klemm
Portage, Michigan 

Janet (Jann) Klemm, of Portage, 85, died suddenly of a heart attack on Monday, July 10, 2023.  

 Born March 20, 1938, in Muskegon, MI, Jann was the daughter of George and Jessie (Walker) Usiak, both of whom predeceased her.

Jann graduated from Ludington High School with the Class of 1955. She was active in band and basketball. After attending Layton School of Arts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jann was hired to graphically design textile products. Returning to Michigan, she enjoyed living in the Kalamazoo area, near her sister, Lynne Millgard.

  While working for Jacobson’s Department Store and years later working for The Mole Hole, Jann embraced her creative design talents to create beautiful clothing ensembles, eye-catching merchandise displays and elaborate holiday tree decorating. Jann’s gift- wrapping skills are legendary. If you received a gift wrapped by Jann, you were lucky, indeed.  Jann took pride in curating her own personal clothing wardrobe. Often, Jann’s former customers would recognize Jann, wearing her distinctive, contemporary stylized outfits.

Jann Klemm will be lovingly remembered by her family.  A remarkable woman, whose love and kindness for family and friends was a constant in her life.

Jann is survived by three siblings: Lynne (Harold “Hal”) Millgard, of Portage; George (Maryjean) Usiak, of Ludington; Gerald Usiak, of Ludington. Jann’s love extended to her nieces and nephews: Greg Millgard, Nancy Diamond, Dianne Roe, Paul Roe, Vaughn Roe, Anna (Aspen) Roe.

There will be no services. Jann was particularly fond of cats. Those desiring, may make memorial contributions in her memory to the Kalamazoo Animal Rescue Project.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Jann’s guestbook and/or share your favorite memory with her family.

The family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society, 129 South Grand, Schoolcraft, MI 49087 (269) 679-5622.