Janice Gyllenberg

Janice Evelyn Munn Gyllenberg

March 9, 1933 -  December 31, 2021

  Janice Evelyn Munn Gyllenberg, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died December 31, 2021, at Meadowbrook Place in Baker City, Oregon.  Her memorial service will be at 1 PM, Saturday, January 22, at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane.  Friends are invited to join the family for a dinner reception immediately following the service at the Family Life Center adjacent to the church.

  Janice was born in Baker City, on March 9, 1933, to Ralph and Elma Munn. She was raised on the family ranch in Unity, Oregon, for the majority of her childhood.  The family briefly resided in LaGrande and Jordan Valley before returning to Unity where Janice graduated from Hereford High School. 

  Janice was very involved in family and school activities.  Favorite memories included driving a team of horses to put up hay, time with family, and participating in sports and school events including volleyball, track, baseball, student body offices, yell leader, and acting. 

  Following graduation Janice attended Portland Business College.  She then returned to Baker and married her husband, Jack, whom she’d met before college at a community dance where he and his band were playing in Hereford. They wed in 1952 and celebrated 52 years of marriage before Jack’s passing in 2004.

  Janice joined Jack’s band as a drummer and singer.  They played for dances every Friday and Saturday night until 1962, and continued playing for special family events through the 90’s. Janice especially enjoyed family music sessions with her husband, sons, and her brothers, as they played for family gatherings.  She enjoyed playing the accordion at these family gatherings.  In later years she found this same joy in playing music with her grandchildren.

  Janice and Jack worked side by side to raise their family of four, and worked toward their dream of owning a ranch.  After 40 years of hard work together, Jack often working multiple jobs while Janice held things down at home, they realized their dream and had built up a ranch from nothing.  

  The couple raised cattle, sheep and hay, and Janice had a milk cow, chickens, and a garden to provide for her family. She loved irrigating, raking hay, and taking care of her animals.  Her greatest joys were her children, grandchildren, and caring for others.  You never left her home without being offered a meal, dessert, or fresh produce or flowers from her gardens.  She was known for hosting special gatherings for friends and neighbors, and especially her annual craft-wreath making parties.  She expressed her love by giving. She loved greatly, and was greatly loved by those around her.

  Janice was heavily involved in her church, serving as a Sunday school teacher for almost 30 years, and assisting wherever needed.  She was a 4-H volunteer and supported the program from her children’s involvement in 1964 until her health no longer allowed, just a few years ago.  Whatever the need, cooking, sewing outfits for a parade, cleaning – she did it all, and humbly.  She never wanted to be in the limelight or recognized.  She worked diligently with her hands, and her faith was expressed in her actions.  Her love for animals was also an expression of her gentle nature.  Whether nursing  a sick calf to health, raising bummer lambs, or caring for a brood of chicks, her love for animals was evident.  She gave all she could by doing the little things that held meaning for others.

  Janice is survived by her four children and their spouses, Brent and Bitsy Gyllenberg of Baker City, Neva Parker of Powell Butte, Oregon, Clay and Chris Gyllenberg of Baker City, and Elissa and Clint Morrison of Baker City.  Grandchildren and spouses Justin and Savannah Gyllenberg, Dani Gyllenberg, Laura and Cale Marcum, Cody and Elle Gyllenberg of Richland, Washington, Dusty Gyllenberg of Pocatello, Idaho, Ty Morrison and Zack Morrison of Baker City.  She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, and nieces Wilma Johnson, Theresa McClay, and Shelly Westfall, nephews Ralph Morgan, Floyd Morgan, Steve Munn and Wm. Munn, and their families.  She was preceded in death by her husband John Powell “Jack” Gyllenberg, her parents, and siblings Betty Morgan, Loren Munn and Melvin Munn.

  Memorial contributions may be made to the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center either online, or through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Oregon, 97834.  Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.