Janice Moengen

Janice Margaret Matthews Moengen, age 87, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, Minnesota.

She was born on January 21, 1939, in Crystal, Minnesota, to Llewellyn and Margaret (Jacobson) Matthews. She grew up in Crystal and attended Robbinsdale schools, graduating before marrying her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bob” Moengen. Together, they shared 67 wonderful years of marriage.

Janice furthered her musical training at Northwestern School of Liberal Arts, where she studied piano chording and became especially known for her God‑given ability to play by ear. She faithfully served as a pianist in eight different churches over the course of 40 years, joyfully serving the Lord “on the bench.”

Her life was deeply rooted in her faith in Jesus Christ. Janice was a devoted prayer warrior, faithfully lifting up a long list of family and friends. Since the 1970s, she embraced an intercessory prayer calling with deep devotion and witnessed many answers to prayer throughout her life. Her final prayer was that all her family and friends would come to know Jesus.

Janice found great joy in reading her Bible and listening to old‑time gospel music. She also enjoyed baking, painting, photography, writing, making clocks, gardening, and journaling. Above all, she was grateful for the many blessings in her life, especially her family and her personal relationship with the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Llewellyn and Margaret Matthews, and her sister, Gerry Leonardson.

Janice is lovingly remembered by her husband, Robert; her four sons and daughters‑in‑law, Mark and Nancy Moengen, John and Deb Moengen, Brent and Sandra Moengen, and Jason and Amy Moengen; her brother, John Matthews and wife Jacki; her nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Ryan) Wellenstein, Emily (Matthew) Ellinghuysen, Carrie (Jake) Collins Kim (Cody) Hartman, Elizabeth (Aaron) Koepp, Rebecca (Mark) Hagerty, Andrew (Hannah) Moengen, Isaiah (Allyson) Moengen, and Hadley Moengen. and twenty‑two great‑grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Crosslake Lutheran Church, 35960 County Road 66, Crosslake, Minnesota, on April 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service. Interment will take place at Pinewood Cemetery in Crosslake, Minnesota.