Janet Spellerberg

JANET ELAINE (BLUE) SPELLERBERG, was born on March 21, 1943 in Blair, Nebraska to Orville and Ruth Blue. Janet and her younger sister Rita grew up on a farm outside Tekamah, Nebraska. In 1957 the family moved to Boulder, Colorado where she completed high school, graduating from Campion Academy in 1960. Janet married Floyd Engen in 1969 and her two children, Jodi (Gilson) and John (Engen), soon followed.

Janet was a trained nurse, earning her bachelors degree in nursing in 1964 from Union College, and later a masters degree in public health. She served the profession in many ways: in the hospital, in the public schools, at the Boulder Public Health Department, in home care, and eventually started her own business (‘Fit Feet’) caring for seniors and their health needs.

She was very creative and had many hobbies; she was a master of all crafts she tried (except for knitting). She especially loved collecting dolls, sewing their clothing, and won multiple prizes for her doll collection. She was an artist and produced many paintings, quilts, and scrapbooks. One of her other hobbies was travel, and in 2008 she married “Moostash Joe” Spellerberg who owned a travel company in Fremont, Nebraska. They traveled all over the world together.

Janet was a kind and generous person who supported the work of Doug Batchelor and his “Amazing Facts” ministry. She donated to many causes like Friendship Home, Peoples City Mission, St. Joseph’s Indian School, Lincoln Food Bank, among others. In her final years she made countless friends at both Gateway Vista and CountryHouse Residence, peacefully passing away on September 7, 2026.

Janet is survived by her sister Rita Blue, her daughter Jodi (Phil) Gilson, son John Engen, and grandchildren Alex and Ben Gilson. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Spellerberg, husband Floyd Engen, and parents Orville Blue and Ruth Ashing.

Janet’s memorial service will be Friday, September 11, 2026 at 4:00pm at Capital View Seventh Day Adventist Church. There will be a light meal to follow. Please direct tributes in her honor to the Lincoln Food Bank or to Friendship Home.