Janette Blanche Hofmeister

SMITHFIELD, UTAH: Janette Blanche Hofmeister, 73, passed away peacefully in her sleep due to complications from Alzheimer’s on November 11, 2014 in Logan Utah.
Janette was born January 30, 1941 in Brisbane, Australia to her parents Winsome and John Greenhalgh.
Janette’s parents Jack and Winsome met when they were both teachers at Windsor Primary School in Brisbane. Jack built a house in Brisbane and then they were married in 1939 just before the start of World War II. Winsome had to stop teaching as soon as she married (that was the rule in those days).
Soon afterward in 1941 as the Japanese approached Australia from the north, Janette Blanche Greenhalgh was born. She soon charmed her parents and grandparents with her happy smile. The war continued but the Japanese were turned back in the jungles of New Guinea and the Battle of the Coral Sea helped by the US Navy. Janette’s sister Jill was born. The two little girls played around the garden with dolls, the dog and on the swing.
Janette went to school at Ironside Primary School. In St Lucia, Brisbane there were lots of girls about the same age as Janette who became lasting friends. Janette’s favorite game at home was teaching school with her sister, the young children next door and her dolls. In the summer school holidays the family went to visit Grandma and the Mooloolaba beach just north of Brisbane. When Janette was 8, her little sister Margot was born, a golden haired little baby that Janette loved playing with.
Jack Greenhalgh became a lecturer at the Teachers Training College. Then he spent 2 years in Roma, a small town in western Queensland, as Regional Director of Education so the Greenhalgh packed up and lived in Roma, a much more relaxed little town. It was even flat so they could ride our bikes to school something Janette and Jill enjoyed greatly. Jack combined work with completing his PhD and when done came back to the Teachers Training College as Head Master. So they packed up and moved back to Brisbane.
Janette passed her Scholarship Exam at 14 then went to the Brisbane Girls Grammar School for four years of secondary education. It was a strict school with high academic standards where tehy wore a navy skirt and black stockings, white shirt and royal blue tie, as well as hat and gloves for the trip to and from school. Janette liked playing ball games and had a crush on one of the senior boys. After 2 years she passed her Junior exam and then after another 2 years, the all-important Senior Exam.
Janette had always wanted to be a teacher so she studied for one year at Queensland University and one year at the Teachers Training College before becoming a teacher at Indooroopilly High School. She left home and moved into a flat with two girl friends in Milton where they had a lot of fun together. Later she specialized in remedial teaching, which she loved dearly as she enjoyed helping people, especially little children.
In the evening Janette went back to study at the Queensland University and completed her Bachelor of Education degree. In the Psychology class she met Alan Hofmeister. Alan went to Eugene in Oregon to study but came back to marry Janette in 1967. That is the start of another story as Janette and Alan departed to the USA for more study and then to start the Hofmeister family.
In 1970 Janette and Alan moved to Logan, Utah where Alan had accepted a professorship at Utah State University and they began their family. Janette and Alan’s first child Andrew was born in 1970, followed by Leah in 1975 and Joni in 1977. Janette lived for her children and spent the early years with them sharing her love of reading. Janette taught each of her children how to read before they started grade school and was always involved in their education by volunteering in the classroom and at afterschool activities.
In 1978 Janette began working at the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University where she wrote and edited their monthly newsletter. In 1982 while Joni was in preschool Janette returned to the University in the Department of Special Education where she authored several educational programs and assisted with various research projects. She returned to teaching as a teacher’s aide at the USU Edith Bowen School in 1991. While assisting in the classroom Janette also pursued her teaching certificate at USU. Once she had completed her teaching certificate Janette became a full time teacher and program manager for the special education program at North Park Elementary. Janette stayed at North Park until she retired at the age of 67. After she retired Janette continued to play an active role of philanthropy supporting education in the Cache Valley community and tutoring children in her neighborhood. Aside from volunteering in the classroom and at USU Janette was also an active member and treasurer of the PEO Sisterhood for several years.
Janette’s family would like to thank the staff at Sunshine Terrance and Hospice for their amazing compassionate care of Janette during her illness. Janette’s family would also like to thank Dr. Lars Bergeson for his ongoing care of Janette and his unending support of her and the family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel, 34 East Center Street in Logan. A viewing will be held prior to the services at the mortuary from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Interment will be in the Hyde Park Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net .
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Janette's name to the Cache Education Foundation (online at cefut.org) or mail donations to 595 South Riverwoods Parkway, Suite 425, Logan, Utah 84321.