Janet Elizabeth Rootkie

Janet Rootkie of Pine City, MN passed away peacefully on November 5th, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family and the staff at Ecumen North Branch and Ecumen Hospice.

Janet & her twin sister Janice were born on January 6th, 1943, in Pine City, MN. They were raised on the Anderson family farm east of Pine City. 

Janet graduated from Pine City High School in 1960 and moved to the Twin Cities where she worked for Prudential.  She would return home to Pine City every weekend. While visiting her sister, Nancy, who lived on Cross Lake, she met her future husband, Cary. They started dating in 1961. While dating; Cary told Janet he would only marry a Catholic girl and Janet soon converted to the Catholic faith. They were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Pine City, MN on January 4th, 1964.

For the first 14 years of their marriage, Janet was a stay-at-home Mother caring for their children. Once the children were older, she began to work outside the home. Her jobs included Bus Driver, Postal Clerk and eventually Postmaster at Grasston, MN. She retired in 2003 from the Post Office and joined her husband in retirement. They built their retirement home on Cross Lake near the location they had first met years ago. This is where she enjoyed hosting family gatherings throughout the years.

Janet was an active member of Immaculate Conception Church. She was a member of Legion of Mary and was the Past President of Knights of Columbus State Auxiliary. Faith and family were most important to her, but she also had other hobbies and interests. She was active in card club, homemakers club, gardening club and on a bowling league. She enjoyed collecting recipes and sharing them. She loved painting, crafts, and making personalized birthday cards.

Janet spent her last 2 ½ years at Ecumen North Branch making more friends and memories. She continued her crafts and enjoyed creating her monthly welcoming display outside her apartment.

Janet was at peace and ready to meet her Lord and Savior. 

Janet is survived by her husband Cary Rootkie, Sr., of Pine City; children Bridget Ausmus of Pine city, Brenda (DuWayne) Dahl of Rush City, Cary "Paul" Rootkie, Jr., Patrick Rootkie, Matthew (Tami) Rootkie all of Pine City; grandchildren: Amanda Hopkins of Rush City, Brad (Jessica) Ausmus of Hinckley, Danielle Wilson of Pine City, Jocelyn (Eric) Dahl of Rush City, Alex Rootkie of Braham, Aaron Rootkie, Lily Rootkie both of Pine City; great grandchildren: Garrett Hopkins, Ary Hopkins, Addy Hopkins, Case Ausmus, Mason Ausmus, Valerie Wilson, Dean Wilson, Roxanne Wilson, Aiden Dahl, Marshall Larson-Lind, Theodore Dahl, Jordan Moe, Jayden Garoutte; twin sister Janice Emslander of Pine City and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carl & Elizabeth Anderson; son Christopher Rootkie; grandson Derek Rootkie; in-laws Paul and Gert Rootkie, siblings Gene Anderson, Nancy Kubat; many nieces and nephews.

Father Thomas Galarneault will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Janet: 11 AM; Wednesday, (11/11/26) at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City with a one hour visitation and reviewal prior. Additionally, a time of visitation and reviewal is planned from 4:00--7:00 PM Tuesday (11/10/26); with a prayer service/rosary at 7:00 PM; all at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. Janet will be interred in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery of Pine City.

Funeral arrangements for Janet Rootkie are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel

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