Janis (Schmuck) Thomsen was born and raised in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley area. She lived in Carlsborg with her parents Audra and Ernie Schmuck and three siblings. While attending Sequim High School she met and married her high school sweetheart, Bob Thomsen, whose school locker was next to hers. Together, for the next 60 years, they raised six children who gave them nine grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Hobbies included sewing many school clothes and kids costumes for operettas and pageants. She also enjoys planting items to adorn her yard.
She is a life-time member of Sequim Prairie Grange and participated in the Rebekahs for several years.
She worked in the Brussels Sprouts barn on Woodcock Road for a short time, then helped open the Sequim Downtown Sears store and worked there for seven years from the first day it opened. Janis eventually started selling Avon products from her home and continued for more than 25 years. Relatives that preceded her as festival dignitaries include her dad, Ernie Schmuck as Grand Pioneer in 1993; cousin Janice Schmuck, royalty queen in 1959l daughter Cindy, a princess in 1973, and grand-daughter Amanda, queen in 1997.
For more than 30 years, her extended family has monopolized the intersection of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street to watch and cheer for the parades. This was followed by her family and friends meeting at her home for the customary indulgence in fresh baked, piping hot Belgian waffles, dripping with either butter and syrup, or topped with strawberries and whipped cream.
“I am so delighted to have been chosen as an Honored Pioneer for the 128th Irrigation Festival,” she said.