Janet Clem, Director of the Community Building at Bonner Senior Center, has been positively impacting the lives of local seniors for nearly 30 years. Clem moved to the senior center from the Portage Township Trustee’s Office back in 1992, and has embraced her role ever since.
“They were actually in need of a bus driver at the time,” Clem said. “I had my CDL license so it was a perfect fit. It kind of fell into my lap, or maybe I fell into the driver’s seat!”
Clem said the incredible Bonner Senior Center members whom she works with every day are her favorite part of the job.
“The members here are amazing,” Clem said. “I really enjoy getting to know them and being a part of their lives.”
Throughout her life, Clem has had several people influence her in a positive way, but one in particular is her 6th grade teacher Mrs. Jane Massa.
“I knew her personally as well as through school. She just took that extra time to reach out to me both as a teacher and as a person, and that really made a difference in me,” Clem said.
Clem didn’t know it at the time, but Massa would later come back into her life as a member of the Bonner Senior Center.
“I hadn’t seen her in years,” Clem said. “It was so great to reconnect with her. I felt like I was in 6th grade again!”
When she’s not working, Clem enjoys spending time with her close-knit family.
“My father will be 91 in May. He’s been such an inspirational figure in my life. I try to spend as much time with him as I can,” Clem said.
One piece of wisdom Clem has taken from her father is the art of perseverance.
“My dad always said, ‘There’s nothing you can’t get through,’ and he reminded us that when we go through hard times, we always have family and friends by our side,” Clem said. “He’d always tell us to just put on your boots, get up and do your thing.”
Clem is especially fond of her four grandchildren: Abigail, Duncan, Piper, and Henry. She has another granddaughter on the way, due in August.
“Between my grandkids, my dogs, and my husband, they keep me pretty busy,” Clem said. “I love taking them places like Wisconsin Dells and the Portage lakeshore!”
In Clem’s eyes, the lakeshore is just one of many factors that make Portage a great place to live.
“We have such a gem here in the City of Portage. Some people don’t realize that,” Clem said. “The lakeshore is just incredible. My son and son-in-law both have boats, so we’ll all go down there together and have a great time on the water!”
“I’ve talked to some people who haven’t been there in 10 years or more,” Clem continued. “I think it might be taken for granted sometimes, but there’s just so much to do here! Whether you like hiking or boating, we really have something for everyone.”
Clem approaches every day with an attitude of positivity, and never puts anything less than her best foot forward.
“Sometimes I’ll start to think about all the things I have to do for the day and think, ‘Oh no, this is going to be bad’,” Clem said. “But then I reset myself and say ‘No, everything is going to be okay’ and I just take everything in stride. Then I get up the next day and do it all over again!”