Janet Bittner

Janet A. (Saari) Bittner, 84, of Baxter, passed away at Edgewood Vista on Saturday, October 27, 2018. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 2, 2018 at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake. Fr. Blake Rozier will officiate. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to Mass. A luncheon will follow Mass. Interment will take place at Mission Township Cemetery.

Janet was born May 24, 1934 in Hennepin County, the daughter of Emil C. and Gladys (Webster) Saari. She was raised in North Minneapolis and graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1952. Janet was proud of her accomplishments while attending school. She was a cheerleader and part of the homecoming court. She also enjoyed participating in the Aquatennial Parade as a majorette. Although she met Gilbert Bittner in high school he didn’t sweep her off her feet until he returned home from his military service. The couple married in 1953 and made their home in the Minneapolis area where they were very social and loved entertaining friends. They moved to Horseshoe Lake in 1973 and created a home that they loved spending time in and sharing with their family. They began attending Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, where she was still a member. Janet and Gilbert appreciated the quiet solitude of the lake and spent much time playing cards, dominos and cribbage with each other. Janet had a life-long love of animals, particularly horses and dogs. She never turned down a chance to foster or adopt a dog who was in need of her loving care.

Janet will be missed by her children, Laurie (John) Majka, Kathy (Erik Lee) Bittner Lee, Brian (Ann) Bittner; grandchildren, Matt (Hillary Swanson) Majka, Katie (Eric) Williamson, Patrick Majka, Kameron Lee, Karter Lee, Jason Bittner, Lyndsay (Josh) Zebrowski, Allen Bittner, and Megan Bittner; and 10 great-grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Dawn Bittner. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert; parents, Emil and Gladys; and brother, Charlie.

In remembrance of Janet’s love of animals, memorials are preferred to HART Animal Rescue in Brainerd.