Janice McClanahan

After a long battle with Alzheimer’s, Janice “Jan” Suzanne McClanahan (Ludwig), of International Falls, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2025 surrounded by her family, she was 73 years old.

Jan was born in International Falls on June 5th, 1952 to Joseph F. Ludwig and Esther V. Heiberg. Just after high school she married her first husband, John Johnson on June 13th, 1970 and together they had two children, son Chad and daughter Sara. She later married Ron McClanahan and they celebrated their 40th anniversary on August 4th, 2025.

Jan built a life filled with dedication to her work, passion for the outdoors and animals and devotion to her family. Jan spent her life deeply rooted in the community she loved. For many years Jan worked at the local Falls grocery stores (National T, Red Owl, Paulbeck’s Super Valu) where she was a familiar and friendly face to countless customers. After retiring from the grocery retail industry, she worked part-time as a 911 dispatcher/jailer for the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office – a role that reflected her steady presence and commitment to helping others.

From tending to her plants to riding through open fields, Jan embraced life with enthusiasm and had an adventurous spirit. Her love for the outdoors was evident; finding joy in gardening, taking pride in raising and training horses, capturing amazing photos and going for boat rides on the Rat Root River. She also loved doing different crafts like locker hook and making wool mittens. During the summer, she cherished time at the cabin up on Kawawia Island on Rainy Lake, fishing, swimming and picking blueberries. She and Ron also traveled each winter to Mazatlán, Mexico where they had a timeshare – their “home away from home”. Jan’s favorite pastime in Mazatlán was collecting sea glass as she walked along the beach.

Shortly after Jan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she and Ron started attending the “Memory Café” sponsored by Koochiching Aging Options. Jan realized that “Memory Café” gatherings were meant for caregivers who have a loved one suffering with memory impairment – she thought it would be wonderful if those who have memory impairment could also have special gatherings. With high hopes, she brought the idea to Koochiching Aging Options and shortly after, “Memory Connect” was started. Special “thanks” to Kristy Wagner-Werner for helping make this a reality and bringing “Memory Connect” to life in our community!

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Esther and Joseph F. Ludwig; brother-in-law Dennis Maloney; sister-in-law Bev Ludwig; sister-in-law Leanna McClanahan.

She is lovingly survived by her husband, Ron McClanahan; her children Chad (Tammy) Johnson and Sara Johnson; stepdaughters Lisa and Lori McClanahan; granddaughters Nateeja and Janae Johnson; grandson Brennen McClanahan; step-grandchildren Jordan (Thomas) Elwell and Jacob Boyd; sister Renae Maloney; brother Joseph F. Ludwig II; many cousins; nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews.

Jan’s legacy will live on through the many lives she touched with her warmth, strength, and enduring love of nature. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew her.

 A Celebration of Life will be held on August 26, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Green-Larsen Mortuary, 517 4th St., International Falls.

Memorials would be preferred to the Memory Cafe or Memory Connect at Koochiching Aging Options.