Janet Claire Boyle

Janet Claire Boyle, age 81, died peacefully on October 28, 2020 at her Milwaukee home. Jan was a retired Milwaukee Police Department detective and creator of Janimals ornaments.

After working as a clerk of courts, in 1967 Janet became one of the first policewomen, serving in the vice squad. Promoted to detective in 1991, she was the first female detective to retire in 1994. Her colleagues remember her as a pioneer, a legend, and a “good cop.”

Upon retirement, Jan traded in a purse filled with 10-lbs of police equipment, for lighter, happier purses shaped like sharks or fish. She liked to make others smile, had a quick wit, and wove her life experiences into lively stories.

Always creative, Janet turned her talents toward Janimals: her handmade, soft sculptured ornaments. Bunnies, dog breeds, and other animals, often with punny names, came out of her imagination in the form of exquisitely stitched stuffed felt. Her ornaments, sold at local craft fairs and online, and given to her friends to spread joy, will continue to spark smiles on Christmas and Easter trees throughout the world.

Janet’s phone greeting said, “This is the Poodle Lady!” and that’s how many local antique and flea market vendors knew her. She was a passionate collector of everything poodle, especially statues and jewelry. Janet amassed a cataloged collection of over 2000 poodle items. Janet loved her live standard poodle companions Fancy, Sable, Kubie, and Diva.

A Milwaukee native, Jan was a Washington High School graduate (1957); member of Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Job’s Daughters, Order of Eastern Star; a sports car enthusiast, ice skater, tap and acrobatic dancer, world traveler, and gardener.

She was the devoted daughter of William J. and Renate Boyle, who pre-deceased her. She is survived by sister Kathleen Brewster, Santa Barbara, CA., niece Valerie Brewster Caldwell (Bruce), Oakland, CA, beloved friends Al and Patti Jansen, dear cousins, valued friends and kind neighbors who will miss her.

Her family suggests that donations be made in her memory to charities that support women such as Hope House, 209 West Orchard St. Milwaukee, WI 53204.

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Janet Claire Boyle

Janet Claire Boyle

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