Janet E. Blomquist

Janet E. Blomquist passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on January 23, 2013, a day before what would have been her 67th wedding anniversary. She has gone to be with the Lord and her husband. We like to think she needed a day to get ready to see Dad again before the anniversary.

Janet was born in Peoria, IL. on July 14, 1917 into a prominent local family. Her grandfather fought with Gen. Sherman’s army in the Civil War and was later mayor of Peoria. Her mother was a debutante in local society and quite fetching.

Unfortunately, Janet was a teenager during the Great Depression and although her family didn’t suffer as much as some it left a lasting legacy on her. She found work in the great Caterpillar tractor works as a bookkeeper and helped support her family as well as others. This charity toward all was one of her hallmark qualities throughout her life.

In 1943, during World War II she struck out for the West Coast with her Caterpillar girlfriends Muriel and Thira looking for better opportunities (and husbands quite frankly, as Peoria was devoid of eligible men). They landed in Seattle at the Boeing plant and were quickly hired. But the Northwest didn’t capture their imagination the way they had hoped and in 1945 they moved to Los Angeles and were employed at the Douglas aircraft plant in Torrance.

Here the three of them found their dreamland as well as their husbands. Janet met Lyle Blomquist at a USO dance at the Palladium in Hollywood and after a whirlwind romance, married him on Jan 24th, 1946. Jan and Lyle had many adventures and moves during the first 15 years of marriage, but finally settled in Costa Mesa, CA in 1961 in Mesa Verde. She lived there until her death.

Janet was very involved in Lutheran church affairs and at one point served as President of the American Lutheran Church Women’s Association. Her affinity for the teachings of Jesus and the word of the New Testament were known by all. Janet also traveled the world, visiting all continents except Antarctica and was accompanied most times by her beloved cousin Vicky.

Janet ran a successful tax company out of her home for many years in which she solved many complex issues and loved the challenge of the task.

She was predeceased by her husband Lyle, granddaughter Danielle and daughter-in-law Nancy. She is survived by her two sons, William and Terry, her grandchildren Jaime, Kenyon and Collin as well as many relatives, friends and associates whom loved her dearly.

Services were held at Christ Lutheran Church at 763 Victoria Ave., Costa Mesa on Monday Jan. 28th at 11:00 am, with interment following at Westminster Memorial Park. A reception was held at the Huntington Beach Elks Lodge at 7711 Talbert Ave., of which she was a member, immediately following the service at the cemetery.

Please do not send flowers. If you wish to remember her, make a donation to your favorite charity in her name, or better yet, plant a tree in her name as one thing Mom always loved was the outdoors.