Janice Mae (Fossum) Soland

Janice Mae (Fossum) Soland , age 88, passed away on Friday, October 16, 2020 in Pine Island, Minnesota.

Janice was born on May 31,1932 in Spring Grove, Minnesota to Thor and Irene (Bryant) Fossum. She was one of 10 children, working hard on the family farm.

At the tender age of 16, Janice and met and fell in love with Vernon A. Soland, a man 9 years her senior. This was a beautiful union, producing 5 children and lasting more than 50 years. They made their home in Harmony, Minnesota and later moved to Pine Island. Like a romance novel, the love they felt for each other never wavered, when Vernon got older and was admitted to the Pine Haven Care Center, Janice would walk up and see him every single day. She stayed a devoted wife and partner until the very end of his life.

Janice was a stay-at-home mom, she always carried a positive attitude, she survived colon cancer 3 times, she was an amazingly strong woman. She never learned to drive, but this never stopped her from getting where she needed to go, or being where she wanted to be. She truly enjoyed her walks, also being a part of the quilting club at her church. Janice would say, “I am ready to go, when it is my time to go”. Blessed be her memory.

Janice is survived by her 2 children, Ronald V. (Donna) Soland, Tammy J. Ryan (Howard Snitzer); 3 grandchildren; 6 great- grandchildren; sister, Doris McCabe (Darrell); her dear godchildren ( nieces and nephews) .

She is preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Irene, husband; Vernon (2004); children Rodney, Marilyn and Barbara; son-in-law Geno Ryan (2004) and eight siblings.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 21, at 11:00 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pine Island. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, also at the church.

Burial will take place in Henrytown Lutheran Church Cemetery, in rural Canton, Minnesota.

Memorials are preferred to the family.