Janet Sokolowski passed away on Aug. 3, 2020, while under hospice care at United Living Community in Brookings, South Dakota. Private family services will be held. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.
Janet Laureen Nelson was born at Volga, South Dakota on July 6, 1954, to Leonard and Anna Jean (Hammer) Nelson. Janet graduated from Sioux Valley High School in 1972. She then enrolled at Nettleton College in Sioux Falls and became a Licensed Practical Nurse.
After graduating from Nettleton College, Janet moved to Gordon, Nebraska where she was employed at Gordon Memorial Hospital. She later moved to North Platte, Nebraska where she worked at Hartman Family Practice.
While in Nebraska, Janet married Andrew Sokolowski and the couple had one son, Adam.
Janet spent many years in Nebraska before returning to Brookings, where she was employed as an operating room nurse at Brookings Hospital.
Janet is survived by her mother, Anna Nelson, Brookings; her son, Adam (Jeanine) Sokolowski, Bethesda, Maryland; her twin sister, Jane Nelson, Brookings; sister Diann Nelson, Sioux Falls; brother Jerry (Julie) Nelson, Volga; brother Kevin (Deb) Nelson, Sioux Falls; brother Les (Roxie) Nelson, Brookings; sister LaDonna (Jeff) Hieb, Brookings; and sister Kathy (Barry) Mielke, Brookings. Janet leaves behind four grandchildren, Ayden, Ashlyn, Ana, and Andy Sokolowski, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Janet was preceded in death by her father and an infant sister, Leann.
Janet was blessed with a keen intellect and an outgoing personality. She was an avid reader of books and had a generous heart.
Janet loved taking her nieces and nephews to the movies. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Due to her ardent interest in the medical field, Janet has donated her remains to the USD Sanford School of Medicine.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the National Kidney Foundation – Dakotas, 2601 Minnesota Ave S, Ste. 105-196, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
