Janice R. (JR) Slama

Janice Rita (“JR”) Slama peacefully entered her eternal rest at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park MN on June 23, 2018 after a fierce battle with dementia.

Born 3/11/1958 to Alvin and Rita (Rohde) Slama in Cavalier ND, JR grew up on a farm in North Dakota. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class from Milton High School in 1976, and earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a minor in Aviation from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1981.  She went on to live most of her life in Eagan MN and have a successful business career working for Soo Line Railroad, Norwest Mortgage, and Northwest (Delta) Airlines.  A long-time Democrat, JR was very active in the DFL party from 2007 until 2016.  During that time she never missed a senate district caucus or convention.  She was a state delegate to the convention and held the positions of precinct chair and director of the senate district, and volunteered for numerous other activities.

JR had a voracious appetite for life.  She was passionate about playing softball, gardening, dancing, bargain shopping, playing cards, and anything chocolate (the darker the better).  We will always remember the home-made salsa and beef jerky she would preserve and gift to family and friends.  She generously volunteered her time and energy for causes including the Humane Society, Junior Achievement, Lewis House, and the Twin Cities Metro Paint-a-Thon.  Her wonderful and witty sense of humor was infectious and will be greatly missed.

Family was always important to JR.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Jeff Slama.  JR is survived by her sister-in-law Joanne (Jeff) Slama of Columbia MO, her brother Jerry Slama of Maplewood MN, her sisters Kathy Slama (Bob Spomer) of Spicer MN, Carol (Dave) Mitchell of Michigan City IN, Louise (Frank) Maixner of Blaine MN, Cindy (Joe) Stokes of Coon Rapids MN, Mary (George) Wilson of Plymouth MN, Debra (Larry) Larsen of Westboro WI, Sally (Wayne) Waltz of Langdon ND, and Julie (Jim) Vierzba of St. Cloud MN, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Wake and visitation will be on June 28 at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home at 15800 37th Ave N in Plymouth MN from 5-7 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. followed by sharing of special memories of JR by family and friends.  Funeral will be on June 29 at the Catholic Community of St. Joseph at 8701 36th Ave N in New Hope MN at 11 a.m. with an hour visitation at 10 a.m.  Interment will be at a later date to be determined in Union Cemetery in Osnabrock ND, next to her beloved parents and brother.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Wedum Compassionate Fund at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park MN.

We would like to extend our deep gratitude to the outstanding staff of Decatur House who gave JR a wonderful and enriched home life over the last 16 months.  We also offer special thanks to North Memorial Hospital and Hospice in Robbinsdale MN and J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park MN for their loving care of JR in her final days.

We will all forever carry the best part of JR in our hearts.

Prayer service at 7pm.

Visitation one hour prior to Mass AT CHURCH. Interment at a later date in Union Cemetery, Osnabrock, North Dakota.

Thursday, June 28, 2018 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel 15800 37th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55446

Prayer service at 7pm.

Friday, June 29, 2018 11:00 AM

St. Joseph's Parish Center 8701 36th Avenue North New Hope, MN 55427

Visitation one hour prior to Mass AT CHURCH. Interment at a later date in Union Cemetery, Osnabrock, North Dakota.