Janice Anne Fulwider

Janice Anne (Donner) Risk Fulwider Janice Anne Fulwider, 71, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and formerly of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away on January 1, 2026. Known to family and friends as "Jan," she was born Janice Anne Donner on July 8, 1954, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to W. Fred Donner and Margaret Anita Stuart. Jan graduated from Osseo Senior High School in Minneapolis in 1972 and built a successful career as an accountant and office manager. Her career evolved to focus primarily on her expertise in the construction field, with roles at MDS Builders (Boca Raton, FL), MS&I Building Co (Plymouth, MN) and Construction Analysis & Management, Inc (Fridley, MN). She retired from her career in 2016. In 1976, she married Timothy Risk, and had one daughter, Kristina. Tragically, she became a widow in 1981 following an automobile accident. She found love again, marrying James Martin Fulwider in 1984. Together with her daughter, the family relocated to Florida, where Jan lived for almost 20 years before returning to the Minneapolis area in 2003 to be closer to family and friends. Jan was a spirited, gregarious woman who filled every room with laughter. A natural storyteller and joke-teller, she had a gift for making others smile. From a young age, she was an independent, strong, and self-reliant woman, who preferred to live by her own set of rules, a quality that remained with her throughout her life. Yet she treated everyone with kindness, always quick to offer visitors, even strangers, coffee, water, or snacks in her home. Sharp and competitive, she was equally skilled at backgammon and bowling, the latter of which earned her a team trophy. A lover of the sun, she despised the brutal Minnesota winters, always looking forward to the warmth of Spring. Above all, Jan was a devoted mother to Kristina, ensuring she grew up with the small (and big) luxuries Jan didn't have as a child, including a university education that opened doors for her daughter's future. Jan was predeceased by her husband, Timothy Risk, and former husband, James Martin Fulwider; her parents, W. Fred Donner and Margaret Anita Stuart; and her younger brother, David Donner. She is survived by her daughter, Kristina Lederer (Stephen); her sisters, Kathleen Denny, Barb Goodwin, and Cheryl Hendrickson; a large extended family, including many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly; and her beloved grand-pup, Coco. She will be greatly missed by all. In honor of Jan's love of warmer temperatures, a Celebration of Life will be held at the start of spring, at Jax Cafe (1928 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN) on March 29 from 1-4pm. Raised in poverty, Jan would prefer that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to local Minnesota organizations that support families in need, including Sharing & Caring Hands, Open Arms MN, or Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA).

Tributes

Janice Anne Fulwider

July 8, 1954 - January 1, 2026

Tributes

Janice Anne Fulwider

July 8, 1954 - January 1, 2026

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