Josephine I. Janicke, 91, of Freeport, IL, passed away on March 5, 2024 at FHN. She was born on November 5, 1932 in Orangeville, IL to Joseph Janicke and Bessie (Renner) Janicke. She attended Orangeville High School and HCC. She married Oral Schmelzer (1962), Russell Ditsworth (1968), and Edward Gerloff (1972). She worked at General Casualty Ins. Company as a clerk, and was a member of the Methodist Church.

Survivors include her brother Clarence (Geraldine) Janicke, brother Charlie (Sharon) Janicke, daughter Brenda (Charles) Boland, son Russell Ditsworth, grandchildren: Destiny Boland, Jace Boland, Sierra Schmelzer, and Christopher Boland; great-grandchildren: Ayden Flores, Athena Flores, and Chasity Boland; and great-great-grandchildren: Fatimah Dehbash and Xavier Goldthwaite.

She was preceded in death by her son James Schmelzer, brother Lawrence Janicke, brother John Janicke, and sister Elaine Loeffelholz.

A visitation will be held on Monday March 11, 2024 at 10 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11 AM, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport, IL.