Janice Phelps

Janice L. Phelps, 77 of Stanton took a leave of absence on April 6, 2021 to be in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, who accepts all true believers in Christ. (John 3:16)

Jan was born to Franklin and Wilma Hoisington on November 4, 1943 at home. She graduated from Vestaburg High School in 1961 while taking care of her grandmother. On March 2, 1962, she married Keith Phelps in the Stanton Baptist Church. She was a former member of the Vestaburg Baptist Church, Auburn Baptist Church (Indiana) and later a member Stanton Baptist Church when they moved back from Indiana in 1964-5. In 1962, she attended and graduated from the Warner Beauty College in Fort Wayne.

Jan was a very hard worker at both Gibson’s and on the farm. She was a very talented and a crafty person. She taught ceramics in our garage east of Stanton and occasionally made wedding cakes. Later, she started “Spin-A-Yarn Knittery” a craft store in Sheridan. There she taught, spinning wool and mohair, knitting, crochet, sewing, knitting machines, porcelain dolls, and had beauticians working in the rear of the store. Upon retiring from AB Electrolux in 2000, she sold the store to her sister Janet Sue. Jan founded the Phelps-Hoisington Scholarship Fund for Vestaburg High School’s grads to attend Northwood University in Midland.

She lived with Keith during the week at Ortonville until he retired. They moved back to Stanton to the new house they both built in 1995-7. She was a very successful deer hunter. She bagged at least one buck every year since 1972. In 2007, she shot a 450# black bear in the Upper Peninsula. She tagged three bears that never needed to be tracked over the years. Once she shot a running deer at 333 yards. Jan also was an outstanding marksperson with a pistol.

She was the greatest “Mother Hen” in protecting her family, especially sadden, when the “local” liberal non-biblical church attacked her son in February 2019 by ordering a State Police criminal investigation because of his religious beliefs and a scholar of the Bible. The State Police reported that the Church’s claims were unfounded. Even, then the Church banned her son from the church property. She never thought in her life time that she would see religious persecution or cancel culture in this country (James 4:16), the new norm in the USA. Her love for family was very deeply rooted by her faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Don Hoisington. Surviving are her husband of 59 years, Keith, daughter Tamela (Bob) Sweeris of Stanton and Son, Kevin (Julie) Phelps of Six Lakes. Granddaughters, Faylyn Emma of Gainesville, Florida and Makayla (Nathaniel) Brown of Ionia. Grandsons, Mitchel Sweeris of Sidney and Ben Phelps of Six Lakes, and newly born Great Grandson Levi Brown. Also, her mother-in-law, Flora Phelps of Stanton; sister, Janet (Tom) Minikey of Sheridan and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Janice L Phelps passing was her final reward to spend eternity in heaven with her Lord and Savior who called her “Finally Home”. Jan always preferred the simple things in life. In lieu of flowers, anyone can make contributions to the Phelps-Hoisington Scholarship Fund for Vestaburg students, Hospice of Michigan (Big Rapids) or the Lakeview Baptist Church, envelopes will be available.

A religious memorial service will be officiated by Dr. Zane Abberger at the Lakeview Baptist Church in Lakeview on Saturday April 10, 2021. Masks and social distancing will be required. For those shut-in or locked down, the service will be streamed via ZOOM (Link: https://highmarkschools.zoom.us/j/9514772656?pwd=d0pVSDJFVUVDTG0xdzBIU2JGUTNrUT09) starting at 1:30 pm with the service at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be 1-2:00 pm before the memorial at the church, located at 9580 Howard City Edmore Rd, Lakeview MI 48850