Janice Ethelene Svenby, 75, of Medford, died Thursday, April 19, 2018 at her home. She was born November 11, 1942 in Owatonna, Minnesota the daughter of John Z. and Ruth E. (Woodfill) Nowak. She was raised on a farm northeast of Medford and graduated from Medford High School with honors in 1960. She received a Medical Technician degree from Northwest Institute in Minneapolis and worked in the Owatonna Clinic office of Dr. Dan Halverson for many years. She married Owen J. Svenby in 1962, at the Medford Congregational Church and made their home in Owatonna until 1968, when they moved the family to their present home northeast of Medford, a mile from the Nowak family farm where she grew up. Following a car accident in 1972, Janice joined the Steele County Public Health Department with many lasting friendships with the people she worked with until retiring in 2002. She returned to work part-time and retired a second time in 2015. Janice was known by many for her seamstress skills through the years and loved sharing her skills, including design and creation of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's clothing and a special wedding dress for her daughter-in-law and great-daughters-in-law. She also enjoyed her flower garden, especially her bearded irises. Janice was an avid fan of Medford School Arts and Athletic departments, and worked with many organizations including Medford Hall of Fame Board, Owatonna Hospice, Steele County Historical Society, and current tenure as treasurer on the Medford Township Board. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Owen; sons, Scott (Jackie) Svenby of Medford and Steven (Karen) Svenby of Janesville; grandchildren, Nicole (Josh) Boyle, Ty (Chelsey) Svenby, Calab (Val) Svenby, Zakarias Svenby, Karrie Petersen and family, Katrina Petersen, Kyle Petersen, and Karissa Petersen; brother, Steven "Jim" (Deb) Nowak of Medford; sisters, Bonnie (Richard) Schmidt of Albert Lea, Becky McPeek of Bloomington and Mona (Tom) Moore of Owatonna and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by parents, John and Ruth; brother, John Jack Nowak. A visitation will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna from 10-11 AM on Monday, April 23rd. A Memorial Service will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna on Monday, April 23, 2018 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at a later date in Union Cemetery in Medford Township. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice, Medford School, or charity of donor's choice. Visitation: 04/23/2018 10:00 04/23/2018 11:00 Service: 04/23/2018 11:00