Janet Grace Schlosser McNulty Yahna

 Janet Grace Schlosser McNulty of Walla Walla, Washington, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the age of 80 in the presence of her loving family.

Janet was born in Bloomington, Illinois in 1943 to Gene and Aubin Schlosser. She grew up in the small town of LeRoy, Illinois, the eldest sibling of three sisters (Janet, Karen, and Terri) and one brother (Chris Eugene). Her formative years in LeRoy were spent helping out in her Grandfather's Implement Store and her Godparents’ Grocery Store. She would restock the soda machine, if "lucky" get to pump gas from the implement store pump, and sack potatoes delivered by local farmers at the grocery store. She claimed to torment her younger siblings on occasion, but was a model eldest daughter who put family, service, and country first.

Due to Gene's poor health resulting from his tour of duty in the Marine Corps during WWII, the family moved to Arizona when Janet was 11. Sadly for Janet and her family, they lost their only brother/son, Chris Eugene, to cancer a few years later when he was just 12-years-old. Due to the loss in her family, she chose to stay close to home and go to college at the University of Arizona in 1962. 

While at U of A, Janet met her first husband and father of her children, Ronnie Joe McNulty. Somewhat ironically (on the RJ side), they met after a church service at the United Methodist Church located just west of the U of A campus. RJ and Janet soon married and welcomed daughter Karsten Dalynne McNulty into the world in 1964 while Janet was still in college. After graduating from U of A with a toddler, Janet and family moved back to the Phoenix area where they then welcomed son Christopher Shane into the family in 1969. 

Janet moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming soon after and spent the next 12 years in Wyoming focusing on raising her two children while also participating in many civic activities, including starring as Cinderella in a local production. After separating from RJ and later divorcing, Janet moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where she started a 35+ year successful career as a real estate broker.

While in Fort Collins, she spent nearly twenty years with Leo P. McCue, whom she met while working at the Wyoming state legislature. Throughout, she was actively engaged in PEO, co-hosted a radio show, delivered Meals on Wheels, sponsored an annual academic scholarship, and mentored budding real estate agents, all while building a successful business.

A few years after Leo McCue's passing, she was introduced to Leo Michael ("Mike") Yahna, who would become her second husband. Janet and Mike spent 15 happy years in Fort Collins, enjoying their family and traveling throughout the U.S. and overseas. Janet especially enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren through Chris--Atticus William and Mackie Vonceil.

In 2022, Janet moved to Walla Walla to be closer to her and Mike’s family, including Karsten who also lives in town. While she missed Fort Collins, she enjoyed being almost neighbors with Karsten, her partner Joseph Ruffino, and their dog Layla in her final 18 months. 

All who knew her would agree that Janet was a truly amazing person who was extremely talented and creative, sacrificed much for others, never complained even if her pain was great, and only wanted good for her family, friends, and country. She will be sorely missed. 

Janet chose to donate her body to the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine as part of the Willed Body Program. Her family anticipates holding a celebration of her life in Fort Collins, Colorado on Sunday, June 9, 2024. 

Donations can be made in her honor to the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Associate - all for research, or the Blue Mountain Humane Society in Walla Walla.