Janet Bostelman Petarra 61, of Pioneer passed away unexpectedly at her home Friday afternoon. She was born August 20, 1952 in Napoleon, Ohio to Albert and Esther M. (Rathge) Bostelman. She graduated from Tinora High School in 1970. Janet married Frank W. Petarra and for 30 years they lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. After Frank died in March of 2010, Janet moved to Pioneer to be closer to her family. She attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Montpelier. She had been a former member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Defiance County. For the past three years she worked at the Pioneer Pizza Barn.
Janet is survived by one brother, Eldon (Debra) Bostelman of Defiance; three sisters, Elaine (Bob) Keinath of Reese, Michigan, Ruth (Bob) Martin) of Pioneer and Betty (John) Burns of Columbia, South Carolina, 11 loving nieces and nephews and 24 great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Visitation for Janet will be Monday at the Thompson Funeral Home in Pioneer from 3 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Tuesday December 31st at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Defiance County with Pastor Paul Gruetter and Reverend Robbie Ketcham to officiate. Burial will follow at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the D.A.V. or Donor’s Choice.