Janet Louise Frees, age 68, of Hudson, Michigan went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Lenawee Medical Care Facility after suffering from complications associated with arachnoiditis. She was born November 10, 1956, in Hudson to Richard Wells “Dick” and Mary Anne (Powers) Frees of Morenci. Her daddy died in 1961, In 1963 she and her family married Robert Donald Leffingwell of Hudson.
Janet graduated from Hudson High School in 1975 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Siena Heights College, Adrian, graduating with honors in 1979. She taught 5th grade in Toledo, OH, her first year out of college. She was then asked by Congressman David Stockman to manage his district office in Adrian after President Reagan asked him to serve as his Director of office Management and Budget. Jan then worked for Congressman Mark Siljander as his district office manager in Adrian. In 1982 she moved to Washington, DC to work in Siljander’s office as a Legislative Assistant and district caseworker. Her duties included reviewing legislation, briefing the Congressman, writing letters to constituents, and writing legislation. The most rewarding part for Jan was helping constituents who had problems with various federal agencies. This included Social Security problems, international adoptions, passport/visa/immigration and obtaining federal grants for people in the District. She was named to “Who’s Who on Capitol hill” and received awards for securing adoptions out of Bangladesh.
She later worked for several years as an administrative assistant/paralegal for a major drugstore chain’s corporate legal department in Alexandria, VA, before returning to Hudson in 1989. Janet had belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary, the Lenawee County Republican Party and was a past Executive Committee member.
Janet was baptized at Trinity Lutheran church in Morenci and was confirmed at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Hudson. Since 1991 she belonged to Crystal Cathedral Ministries. She was blessed with many experiences in her life that most couldn’t even dream of. In 1974 she traveled to Cuenca, Ecuador, as an exchange student. She attended both inaugurations of President Reagan and President Bush. She worked with, and met, numerous White House officials.
She personally met President Bush and Vice President Quayle, Elizabeth Dole while she was Secretary of Labor, movie star Tom Selleck, and astronaut Sally Rid, (the first American female in space).
Janet always said, however, that her greatest blessings came from the love she shared with her family; her parents, brother, Richard “Tim” Frees and his wife Mary Ann of Florida, sisters Lori and her husband, Mark Butts of Manitou Beach, and Lisa Daub of Hudson. The most precious gifts she ever received came in the form of her nieces and nephews; Sara (Dewayne) Elledge, Rich (Alisha) and Nick (Meredith) Frees, Jason and Justin Butts and Jessica Patrick, and Jayme (Tom Sr.) Bujdos, Emily (Nolan) White and Christine Daub, and many great nieces and nephews. She was also the proud Godmother of Emily Daub. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be on Monday, July 21, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Hudson, with the Funeral Service beginning at 12:00 pm with Pastor Allen Muck officiating. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Morenci.
You may send condolences to the family at www.marryfh.com.