Janet Margaret Tiernan, 93 of Longwood, Florida passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Mrs. Tiernan was born August 20, 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Paul and Mamie Haekler Imse. She was united in marriage to Harry James Tiernan on July 14, 1951 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He preceded her in death March 23, 1999. They were married for 47 happy years.

Janet received her degree in journalism from Marquette University. She worked as an associate for the Milwaukee Catholic Herald Citizen prior to her marriage. After her marriage, she held many roles, including military wife, mother, journalist and teacher. During the course of her husband's military career, the family moved eighteen times and Janet made each and every house a home. In the 1970's, she returned to school to learn computer programming and went on to design and implement the first automated circulation system for Virginia's Chesterfield County Public Library System.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Susan (Richard) Wilson, Winter Springs, FL, Kathleen Willis, Arlington, VA, Paul Tiernan, Midlothian, VA; Patricia (Steven) Waugh, Lorton, VA; 6 loving grandchildren: Katie Wilson, Emma Tiernan, and Robbert, Michael, Virginia, and William Waugh; sister-in-laws: Fern-Aileen Imse, MaryEllen Drake, Patricia Ann Tiernan, and Eldine Imse Mast; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Marion Ossmann, brothers Philip and Thomas Imse, and son-in-law Henry Samuel Willis.

Graveside services at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. Date and time will be announced on this website when available.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that you make donations to The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org . If you do send flowers, please be sure to exclude any Lavender or Eucalyptus in the arrangements.