Rock William Janich

Resided in Escanaba, MI
Died October 19, 2017

In a moment of brokenness, with a heavy heart on Thursday October 19, 2017, Rock William Janich, age 19, of Escanaba, took his life, in Cornell.

Rock was born September 29, 1998, in St. Louis Park, MN, the son of Jason and Monica (Cannon) Janich. He grew up in Escanaba and spent 5 years in Charleston, IL before finally settling in Escanaba where he attended and graduated from Escanaba High School, class of 2017. Throughout his life, Rock established a love of music. He was a drummer in the Escanaba High School marching band but was also a skilled pianist, guitarist and accordionist. Following high school, Rock went on to major in Electrical Engineering at Michigan Tech University. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and his loving church family at New Life Assembly of God in Escanaba.

In addition to his parents, Jason and Monica, Rock is survived by:
Siblings: Stryder, Scotland, Journey and Timber
Maternal Grandmother: Kay Cannon
Paternal Grandparents: Larry (Linda) Janich

Rock’s maternal grandfather, Gene Cannon, preceded him in death.

Rock’s family will receive friends on Tuesday, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM, at New Life Assembly of God Church in Escanaba. Funeral services will follow visiting hours, at 1:00PM, at New Life Assembly of God Church, with Pastor Robert Derheim officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the Janich family for suicide awareness and those who suffer silently.

32 Tributes for “Rock William Janich”

    My name is Marilyn Kern,
    I just want you to know how sorry I am for the loss of your son. I’m a friend of your Moms.
    Again I am so so sorry!

    Marilyn Kern

    Hi, I was in Kindergarten with Rock, my names Abby. I remember playing with him all the time and how he was my best friend. So sorry for your loss.

    Rock was such a sweet kid, always such a joy to know since our middle school band days. He was such a quiet, kind person, and being quiet myself I always found being able to talk to him so refreshing.
    May He rest peacefully in God’s arms, free of pain now.
    God bless, and my condolences to the Janich family.

    I am so sorry for the loss of Rock. He was so talented and smart and had so much life ahead of him! I can’t even begin to understand what your family is going through but just remember you have a whole community around you who love and care about you!

    May you rest in the loving arms of our Saviour!
    My prayers are with you Pastor and family. So sorry for
    your tragic loss. Gods plan may not be understood right
    now, but know you are blessed with his love and mercy.

    So so sorry for the loss of your beautiful son. I will have him and your family in my prayers.
    God be with you during this truly sad time.

    Rock was a true friend and always a blast to be around. Awesome at anything musical and was one of my main friends for two years.

    I’m so sorry to hear this. So many young people losing their lives this way. May God bless your family.

    I am so sorry for the desperate life of this young man. My hope is that there is more help for those who also despair. Prayers for his family.

    Carole Kern
    Indianapolis, IN

    I didn’t know your son, but I am truly sorry for your loss. God Bless him and your family during this time.

    I’m a student from the Escanaba Senior High School and I didn’t know Rock all too well, but we did play in a jazz combo together. He was an amazing pianist. I am so sorry for your loss.

    Although we don’t know you personally, we want to say that our hearts are heavy for loss of your precious Son. Prayers that God will surround you all with His loving arms and give you peace and comfort.

    Monica, Jason and Janish family,

    Our hearts are so broken for your loss. There are no words to express our sadness that y’all are feeling. Try to remember all the good days y’all had together with Rock. Our prayers are with you and all your family.

    Tim & Gayla Looper and Family
    Fort Worth,Texas

    Dear Pastor and Mrs. Janich,
    We were so saddened to hear of the passing of your son Rock. May God enfold you and your family in his loving arms at this heart wrenching time. You and your family are in our prayers and in the prayers of our church family at First Church of God in Lancaster, PA. I am Dan Marenger’s sister and my husband and I met you last summer.
    Sincerely,
    Kathy and John
    Brubaker

    Rock and I went to elementary school together. In third grade we would get basketballs and take them to the grass. We sat on them and pretended we were turtles warming our eggs. Luckily our love for animals outweighed our knowledge of them.
    A couple years later he moved down the street from me and I’d see his blonde curly head ride by on his bike. We didn’t get a chance to stay in touch after he moved; as none of us had cell phones or social media. It’s strange that just the other day I was telling a friend about Rock, and how we pretended to be turtles together.
    My condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.

    I knew Rock as a little boy, and I can still see his big smile, reddish hair, and ever-present earnestness. He was a fun kid.
    More than that, Rock had a loving heart, abundant patience, and an open mind. In third/fourth grade, he was a good friend to my son, who is autistic and was really struggling socially. At the time, Rock was the only kid who would play with him or have him over to his house. He stuck up for him and lifted him up when he was down. He was understanding on the rough days. A teacher once pulled Rock aside to ask him if he was ok after my son had yelled about something that was agitating his senses that day. She told me that he cut her off (politely) and said, “he is my friend-just the way he is,” and marched back into the room to sit beside my son.
    People with as much empathy and generosity of the soul as Rock had often hurt most deeply. I am heartbroken to know that Rock was not immune to this kind of pain. The life he lived was truly a blessing to my son and all those who loved him. He is with our loving God and is at peace, but he leaves a huge empty space behind. I can’t imagine how much you will miss him and I am so very sorry for your loss. I pray that you will feel God’s love and comfort always, and that when you think of Rock-as you always will-the joy of his life will outweigh the pain of his loss.

    Janich family I’m so sorry about Rock I did not not have the pleasure of getting to know him like others but he sounded truly amazing may God wrap his arms around you and your family during this tragic time. With Love your cousin…

    So shocked and heartbroken for your family. I remember Rock as a little guy running around the Church with my Rachel and had him in the nursery a few times. So glad you have God in your heart to help you thru this horrible time. You ate all in my resume thoughts.

    I only knew Rock for a short time in high school, but he was such a kind and sweet person. I am so deeply sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

    Rock was such a wonderful friend to our son Christopher while he and his family lived in Charleston. We have so many happy memories of him and his sweet family. Praying for peace and comfort for all of his loved ones.

    Jason & Monica,
    Our hearts are heavy with grief for you and you are constantly in our prayers! May Rock’s light still shine bright to lead others to hope in the midst of despair.
    Carlos & JoAnn

    Jason and Monica,
    Our hearts are heavy with grief for you and you are constantly in our prayers! May Rock’s light continue to shine and show others the way to hope in the midst of despair!
    All our love,
    Carlos and JoAnn

    I remember Rock being one of my friends in my class when we went to Mark Twain. He may be gone, but never forgotten. God bless your family.

    I am so deeply sorry for your loss. May God bless your days ahead and may he bring peace into your minds.

    It is true that the most tender of heart do hurt very deeply and usually do it quietly. It has been an honor to read the tributes to your son. It sounds like his choices were for helping those in need of acceptance and a true friend. I’m sure he will be missed and grieved over by many. Our prayers are for your hurting hearts to be held up. Love, Phil & Karen Poe

    Monica & family ….I am so sorry for your loss . Rock had a loving heart.
    Having lost our son, I undrrstand the pain of “ the worst loss” & pray that God gives you strength & peace .

    I’m from Iron Mountain Michigan, and I came across rocks obituary on Facebook. I read it and reread it and read it again and I couldn’t stop thinking of the courage it had to take for his family to write that opening line on his obituary.

    You’re absolutely right, in a moment of Brokenness, I pray that God’s love will surround you and fill your heart with good memories of Rock.

    The courage that must have taken to write that obituary in the fashion that you did, full of honesty and love, I applaud you on your courage.

    I am sure Heaven is filled with the music Rock is playing, and that he is at peace, and Gods promise of someday, we will all be reunited.

    God Bless everyone who misses Rock.

    6 years later and you still pop into my head. It’s weird looking at your picture and knowing you never got older. I wonder where you’d be now.

    Rock loved the band mewithoutYou; I didn’t get it then but I do now, they’re a great band. Sometimes when they come on I think of him.

    he would of been a great step-cousin to meet and a great person in general but he died to soon rest in peace

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