Janet Lee Besta, Appleton, age 85, died peacefully at home on Dec. 18, 2021, after a struggle with dementia. Her partner of over 20 years, Gene Burner was by her side. Born in Dixon, IL on Aug. 4, 1936, she was raised as an only child to the late Frank and Olive (Welch) Sleasman. All would describe her as kind, smart and confident, and although Janet was tiny in stature, she was strong in character and commitments.

She married Theodore J. Besta, Jr. in 1961 at the Unitarian Universalist church in Oak Park, IL. Jan and Ted raised their four children in Appleton. Early on they joined a small lay-led Unitarian fellowship and a Newcomers group, where they made life-long friendships, bridge and book clubs. She worked full-time as a business teacher at Fox Valley Technical College while managing her "loud" children. Jan and Ted were a team; they ran the PTA, led their children's Scout troops, and passionately volunteered at their church, the Fox Valley UU Fellowship, where Jan continually served on boards and the finance team.

More recently, Janet and Gene enjoyed a relaxing lifestyle between, Appleton, Elgin, IL and Mesa, AZ. They took scenic drives in Gene's sports car, enjoyed races and boated on the Fox River as members of the Appleton Yacht Club where they enjoyed meeting friends on Tuesday Pizza Nites. She continually traveled to visit her children and grandchildren, offering kind guidance and a steady presence in their lives.

In addition to her parents, Janet was preceded in death by her former husband, Ted Besta, her father and mother-in-law, Theodore and Adeline Besta Sr.; and sister and brother-in-law, Joan (Besta) and Daniel Vrabec Sr.  Her ashes will be buried alongside her parents in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Dixon, IL.

Janet is survived by her partner, Gene Burner, Appleton; Bruce (Kim) Besta, Madison; Molly Besta Allscheid, Oak Park, IL; Mike Besta, Wales; and John Besta (& Robert Erwine), Whitefish Bay; grandchildren:  Travis Burton and Bailey Besta; Margot and Violet Allscheid; Shawn and Alex Besta; great grandchild, Chloe Burton; niece and nephew, Barbara Vrabec (& Hank Fried), Scottsdale, AZ; Dan Vrabec Jr., Streamwood, IL; dear friend, CyAnn Martin, Neenah; and cousin, Sandy (Roy) Friemuth, Dixon, IL.

A private memorial will be streamed at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Januay 15, 2022 live using Zoom from the FVUUF in Appleton on:

https://uuma.zoom.us/j/92005103121?pwd=clpDYXJYbmxVZHdyakpZRUIvMk1HQT09

Meeting ID: 920 0510 3121    Passcode: 448630

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ministers' Discretionary Fund at Janet's church which supports people in times of need. Send a check, written to FVUUF with "MDF- Jan Besta" in the memo line, to 2600 Philip Lane, Appleton, WI 54915. Or to give online, visit tinyurl.com/uugive. Put your donation amount in the second box for the MDF, and in the memo box enter "Jan Besta.