Janet Lilllian Trostrud Walker

Janet Lillian Trostrud Walker, 95, died on Sunday October 4, 2026 at her home in Kent, surrounded by family. She was born in Chicago on July 31,1931.

She grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and graduated from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, then lived and worked as a graphic artist in Minneapolis, NYC and Chicago. On March 17, 1960, while celebrating St Patrick’s Day at Gus’ Pub in Chicago, she met her beloved husband, Harold. She adored their 4 children, Julia, Johanna, Hal & Caroline, and was “second Mom” to many. Wherever she went, she brought art projects, creativity and a playful spirit. She turned the living room of their Chicago apartment into a kids’ art studio, and when they later moved to Kent, Ohio, designed creative mini-courses at Longcoy Elementary School, and became known in the community for her generous, artistic offerings. After launching her kids into the world, Janet became a world traveler, and visited China, Egypt, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Mexico, Portugal, Costa Rica, Russia, France & Italy, sketchbook always in tow. She and Harold paused for coffee, pastries and conversation every morning at 10am, no matter where they were, and celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary shortly before he died in 2017.

Janet was an avid gardener, a maker of a warm, welcoming and artful home, a host-er of exquisite meals for international students, friends and family, a knitter of hats, a slightly cynical spiritual seeker, a passionate progressive, and a Facebook cheerleader for all of her friends, family and their children and grandchildren (aka everyone she knew). She had a laugh that made the rest of us join in and was truly interested in the lives of everyone she met.

She is survived by her children, Julia Wyson, Johanna Walker, Hal Walker III, and Caroline Walker, her grandchildren, Hallie Walker, Charles Wyson, Hunter Boyle, and Anna Boyle, her sons-in-law, Edmund Wyson and Tod Boyle, her siblings, Earl Trostrud and Cheryl Trostrud-White, and many beloved nieces and nephews, especially Amie and Fred Pierre, and their sons Lucas and Leo. Amie’s devoted care brought comfort to her and the whole family in her last days. She is preceded in death by her husband Harold, her sister, Sarane Lorenz, and her parents, Earl and Lillian.

In honoring her wishes, Janet will be cremated and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ACLU at www.aclu.org or the Open Med Foundation (OMF) at www.omf.ngu.

Services in the care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.