Janet Frederiksen

Frederiksen, Dr. Janet Kathleen "Kathy", age 66 passed away peacefully in Flagstaff, Arizona on January 27, 2016 after a valiant battle against ALS.  Kathy was a proud Germantown resident and graduate of Germantown High School, class of 1967.  She married Ted Frederiksen in Germantown in 1966, and raised her two daughters there until 1983, when Ted’s job took them to his home state of Texas.  In the 1970’s, Kathy was an involved Germantown Elementary PTO member, and led Girl Scout meetings for her daughters’ troops.  She was also involved in the Twin Creek Garden Club, and helped create and maintain new flowerbeds along Route 4 as it approaches Germantown. Also, Kathy and her husband Ted served as the caretakers of the Mudlick Mill and homestead when the property was owned by Huston and Audrey Brown.
In 1986, now living in Texas, Kathy began attending classes at Amarillo College. She consistently made the honor roll, and transferred to West Texas A&M University to complete her Bachelor’s and then Master’s degrees in Psychology. She began her doctoral studies in 1995 at the University of Nebraska, and completed her PhD in Biology at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 2003.  Dr. Kathy, as she liked to be called, taught Biology for NAU for twelve years.  Her family remains very proud of her academic accomplishments.
In November, 2013 Kathy began slurring her speech, a condition that worsened at an alarming rate. Her diagnosis of bulbar onset ALS the following August was devastating. She fought bravely for 17 months, continuing to smile with her twinkling blue eyes long after her ability to speak had left her. She chose to live her final days in Flagstaff, her home of 18 years, and passed away at Olivia White Hospice Home.
Kathy is survived by her two daughters, Julie Frederiksen and Krista Detten; Krista’s children Wesley, Harrison, Jill, Holly, and Chloe; her sister Linda Smith Mathews; her brother, Earl Edward “Ed” Smith; and her two dogs, Buddy and Max. Kathy’s mother Laura Frances Smith preceded her in death in June, 2015.
A memorial service will be held for Kathy in Germantown on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Germantown Union Cemetery with Pastor Gary Wheeler officiating.  Her daughters Julie and Krista would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Germantown High School Class of 1967. Their support, cards, kind words, and prayers have been such a blessing. Kathy always loved gardening and flowers, so if you would like to remember her, please do so by planting something lovely in Germantown.