Janice Marie Kannapel

She was born in Louisville, KY on June 8, 1938, the oldest child of William and Ruth Ford. She grew up in the West End and graduated from Shawnee High School in 1956. In 1957 she married her one and only love, Thomas Kannapel. She spent her early years as a housewife and mom, quickly going from a family of two to a family of six by 1962. When all the kids were in school, she returned to school and got an associate degree and became a Medical Lab Technician.

After her husband retired in 1985, they began a second career in Round Dancing. They travelled the country for many years, featured as the Rounds Instructor at many Square and Round Dance conventions, and spent 17 winters in Arizona as the Rounds Instructor there. They taught many students to dance and choreographed many dances for the Rounds community.

In her later years, although she was affected by dementia in many ways, she remained devoted to her husband and dog until the very end.

She is preceded in death by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Meyer (Danny Moore), Rebecca Dowell (Ron), Susan McCormick, and Jennifer Wahle (Garry); her sister, Darlene Powers (Greg); her brothers, Larry Ford (Lori) and Bruce Ford (Shelly); 10 grandchildren, Tricia Beckmann, Thomas Meyer, Shannon Burton, Jacob Meyer, Monique Sorrell, Chad McCormick, Amanda McCormick Moss, Ashlee McDonald, Derek and Sidney Wahle; 27 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Funeral Home 4400 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky 40218 on Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4PM to 8PM. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel the following day on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 12PM. Janice will be laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hosparus or The Alzheimer’s Association.