Janet Louise (Heberlig) Rudolph

May 9, 1932 -

Oct 27, 2025

Gone Fishin'!

On October 27, 2025, Janet left her earthly presence for that eternal fishing hole in the great beyond. And while she will be so deeply missed, all those that knew her will smile, knowing that she is forever drifting peacefully amidst the wind, the waves and the fishes.

Janet Heberlig was born and raised in Carlisle PA. She was the oldest of 7 siblings. She was a very social and outgoing young woman. Both her dad and grandpa were musicians, which inspired Janet's love of music, and she would often accompany them to performances, singing and playing guitar. In her early 20's she met Jim Rudolph, a local boy and Air Force veteran returning from WW2. After a whirlwind courtship, they married and immediately following their nuptials, Jim was transferred to then Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK, a wild frontier, not yet part of the U.S.

Janet and Jim moved to Anchorage in 1955. Always up for adventure and challenge, Janet fully embraced the pioneer spirit. That's when her love of camping and fishing began. Janet and Jim settled in and began raising their family. Many weekends were spent packing up the family and discovering Alaska's great outdoors. Even with a growing family, Janet's "never-one-to-be-idle" attitude, led her to taking a job at Anchorage Communication System (ACS), first as a telephone operator and then moving up the ranks. She went on to work for the Municipality of Anchorage Telephone Utility until her retirement in 1989. Being the incredible multi-tasker she was, Janet not only worked full-time, but also made time to be a Blue Bird leader, den mother and room mother for her children's classrooms – a bit of a wonder woman to all who knew her. She was a great cook, seamstress, knitter, gardener and animal lover – especially of orange tabby cats!

Upon retiring, Janet realized her longtime dream and moved to Homer – a fishing paradise. Homer was her heaven and the years she spent there were some of her happiest. When she wasn't out on the water, she volunteered her time with many organizations – Homer Emblem, American Legion Auxiliary and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, to name a few. She resided in Homer for 20+ years, until health issues necessitated a move back to Anchorage.

Janet is survived by 5 of her siblings, 5 of her 7 children, many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held in Homer, next spring. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to an animal shelter or humane society to honor her love of furry creatures.

We hope you will think fondly of Janet the next time you are out on the water, rod in hand, and know that she is smiling, hoping you get a tug on the line – let the play begin!