One of downtown St. Joseph’s best known and best loved business leaders and boosters has died. Janet Dykstra, the longtime co-owner of Kilwin’s Ice Cream Shop passed away, as we learned in a post from her friends at the Southwest Michigan Tourist Council:
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Janet Dysktra, the beloved former co-owner of Kilwins in downtown St. Joseph for 25 years. Janet’s passion for our community and her commitment to Kilwins made it a beloved local institution. Her store was even featured in the Pure Michigan commercial for St. Joseph, showcasing the charm and sweetness of our city. We will miss her warm smile, her kind heart, and her dedication to our community.
The current owners of Kilwin’s, who took over from the Dykstra’s, added their feelings of loss of the woman who was still the ‘face of Kilwin’s’ even after the sale of the store.
Kilwins St. Joseph lost our former owner Janet Dykstra yesterday. Her and her husband Phil ran our store for 25 years.
Her love for her family,employees, and our community was unmatched in her dedication and love for all.
She was and still is the driving force in our success. She made our store the gold standard for every Kilwins.
Our love goes out to her husband Phil, sons Rick and Shawn and daughters Tami and Traci, and all her extended family. God’s speed Janet!
Janet Dykstra was a tireless supporter of downtown St. Joseph’s development into the tourist center that it is today. She was a leader in many St Joseph Today initiatives and was a welcoming voice to those who were just discovering Michigan’s Great Southwest, as well as those returning frequently.
Dykstra was also a mentor to countless young employees who got their start working at Kilwin’s during the Summer vacation period when she needed many workers to scoop ice cream, cut and package delicious fudge and handle the many sweet treats she featured in the store. Anyone who worked for or with Janet learned about the importance of customer service and a welcoming attitude.
by Gayle Olson, MOTM Contributor
