Janie Staggers Obituary

Janie Ann Staggers (nee Rasmussen), 86, of Bridgman, formerly of Coloma passed away July 5, 2025, due to complications associated with dementia.

Janie was born Aug. 23, 1939, in Chicago to Louis and Mildred (Skidmore) Rasmussen. In 1946, the family moved to Paw Paw Lake in Coloma. Janie's father worked as a tool and die maker for VM Corp. and her mother was an office assistant at Auto Specialties. Janie's childhood had all the positives of a small-town life, while also having big city experiences of Chicago. The family would regularly travel to see family or enjoy holiday traditions like visiting the Marshall Field's Christmas window displays the day after Thanksgiving.

Janie graduated from Coloma High School in 1957 and moved into an apartment in Benton Harbor with her two best friends: Jean McQueen and Barb Calloway. Janie got her first adult job at VM Corp. and considered other career options – from becoming a flight attendant to performing as a professional water skier for Cypress Gardens in Florida. Ultimately, she decided to stay in the area which led her to meet and marry Bernard "Pete" Peterson in 1960. Janie and Pete bought a home on Paw Paw Lake and started a family, becoming parents to Michelle M. Peterson and Roderick "Ricky" C. Peterson. Tragically, little Ricky died of a brain tumor at just a year old.

Janie was always good with people, had a great sense of style and was talented creatively. She and her best friend Barbara (nee Urness) Hinkleman went into business together and opened the Ladybug Dress Shop on Main Street in Coloma in the early 1970s. The shop was a big success with its one-of-a-kind collections and the latest fashions from Chicago. Janie thrived in selecting and displaying the clothing and accessory merchandise and working directly with customers to find the best look for any occasion.

After her divorce from Pete, Janie met and married James "Jim" Staggers. They married in the summer of 1978 and then moved with her daughter Michelle to Brea, Calif. Once Michelle graduated high school, Janie and Jim began their decade-long trek around the country moving several times with Jim's job in sales. She lived in Springfield, Mass., Charlotte, N.C., Kennesaw, Ga., Grand Rapids, Mich., and New Buffalo. With each new location, Janie would engage in the local social and volunteer scene, create a beautiful home, host business gatherings for Jim's businesses, work in retail and other creative occupations.

After Janie's marriage to Jim ended, she then lived for a short while in Elgin, Ill., with her brother Roderick "Rick" Rasmussen where she became a teaching assistant for special needs kids. She and Rick eventually both retired back to Coloma, moved into their childhood home on the Lake, and opened the Paw Paw Lake Store on Main Street in Coloma. The store sold historic books, memorabilia and Paw Paw Lake-themed clothing. During this same time, her daughter Michelle and her granddaughter Amber Marie Shaw also moved back to the area from California.

Janie and Rick also traveled extensively during this time doing elderhostel educational programs across America, volunteering with the Immokalee Indians in the Florida Everglades and traveling abroad. Janie also made time to continue her tradition of going to Chicago every Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season.

Janie's last big creative project was, while working as a volunteer at Watervliet Hospital, now Corewell Health, she worked with the administration to set up and run the new gift shop. The shop was a favorite of staff and visitors and always looked expertly put together with unique offerings, hand selected by Janie.

Janie moved into the Whitcomb Senior Living Center in St. Joseph in 2020. There she enjoyed walking the bluff, sunsets on Lake Michigan, visiting the shops of Main Street and spending time with her daughter, granddaughter and friends. Janie moved to the Woodlands of Bridgman in 2022 where she stayed until her death.

Janie was always dressed in style, had a great smile and made people feel welcome in her presence. She was a force of life with an adventurous spirit and never lost her childhood sense of wonder. She loved good food, good times, traveling, keeping up with current events, history, tending to her yard and making things beautiful whenever possible. She loved her family and close friends with passion. She was always happy and content when sitting quietly just enjoying the sounds and views of Paw Paw Lake.

Janie is survived by her daughter, Michelle M. Peterson of Sawyer; granddaughter, Amber (nee Shaw) Paulson of Niles; and brother, Roderick L. Rasmussen of Bridgman.

Please join us for a celebration of life at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home, 6548 Paw Paw Ave., Coloma, MI 49038, where the family will receive friends beginning one hour prior to the service. A private burial of ashes will take place on the family plot in Coloma Cemetery. Those wishing to leave an online message of remembrance may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com. Donations in memory of Janie may be given to the Watervliet Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop.