Janet Korsmeyer

Janet Korsmeyer of Chicago, died peacefully surrounded by the love and singing of her family after a long bout with cancer.

She was born October 18, 1953, in Beardstown Illinois, the daughter of Willard and Carnell (Jolly) Korsmeyer.

She is survived by her mother, Carnell Korsmeyer of Beardstown; two sisters, Lynn Hollahan of Jacksonville, Illinois, and Karen Randola of Ossining, New York; three children, Lucas Martín Alvarez, Anna Martín, and Lydia Martín of Chicago; grandchildren Oliver and Mason Goldzweig; ex-husband Rudy Martin; along with numerous extended family members, friends, former students, and artistic collaborators. She was preceded in death by her father, Willard Korsmeyer, her brother, Stanley Korsmeyer, and husband, Paul Vorwerk.

Janet was raised in Beardstown and was a graduate of Augustana College. She later earned her master's degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. The arts and education were lifelong passions that shaped both her career and the countless lives she touched. Her teaching career spanned more than forty years as she taught in Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, and California. She taught in the Fort Wayne Community Schools and retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District. In addition, she served as a choral director for the Fort Wayne Children's Choir, helping young performers develop their talents and confidence.

A gifted artist, educator, and storyteller, Janet had myriad talents and interests. She wrote, directed, and produced children's musicals, founded a children's theater summer camp, directed youth choirs, and inspired generations of students to embrace creativity. She was an accomplished opera singer, actor, storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, and she toured internationally with the Los Angeles Chorale. Among her many adventures, she sang at Christina Aguilera's wedding and traveled extensively throughout her life.

Janet embraced life with enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, sewing, batik painting, hiking, canoeing, collecting pottery, antique furniture, flamingos and pig trinkets. She was a certified massage therapist and an ardent environmentalist who cared deeply for the natural world. Her love of art and culture was reflected in her appreciation for the works of Henri Matisse and Gustav Klimt, Virgin Mary icons, Shakespeare, poetry, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and Arts and Crafts designs. Music filled her life, from classical and jazz to bluegrass.

Those who knew Janet will remember her witty and irreverent sense of humor, her generosity, and her endless love for family and friends. She had a gift for making people feel seen and valued, especially those who felt overlooked or out of place. Her children fondly remember family road trips, creative projects, and the countless adventures they shared together. One of Janet's most recognizable trademarks was her brightly colored hair, often pink, purple, or blue. Following a round of chemotherapy, she proudly transformed her natural faux-hawk curls into a hairstyle inspired by The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a reflection of her resilience, creativity, and joy. She officiated Lydia's wedding dressed as the Pope, as a stylish nod to the comedy TV show Schitt's Creek.

Some of Janet's most cherished memories were made alongside her children. Anna frequently accompanied her to The Moth StorySlam events in Los Angeles, where Janet's storytelling captivated audiences and left them laughing. Together, Janet and Anna spent several summers studying Balinese shadow puppetry, writing scripts, creating puppets, and performing their productions. Years later, those artistic traditions continued through performances with the Gamelan Naga Biru, the puppet ensemble that Lydia founded. 

Above all, Janet was a devoted mother whose love for her children and grandchildren knew no bounds. Her passion for learning, the arts, nature, and people left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy lives on through the countless students she taught, the performances she created, the stories she shared, and the family and friends she loved so deeply.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Beardstown City Cemetery. John Ashcraft will officiate. Three readings by her children will be shared during the service. Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to support your local artists. Please share with the family your chosen contributions. The family recommends Gamelan MojoManis based in Indianapolis, to support their ongoing artistic and cultural programming. This group is a long-time family friend and connects the family's California, Illinois, and Indiana roots and appreciation for Indonesian culture. They have a current fundraiser the family wishes to support at: https://givebutter.com/c/mojomanis-sweet-magic

Condolences can be left by visiting colwellmemorialhome.com or on the funeral home's Facebook page. 

There will be a Celebration of Life in July in Chicago at Lakeview Landing (835 W Addison, Chicago) Please reach out to the family for more information on the date or the zoom link on the celebration.