Welcome to
Prairie Roots Genealogy
I’m Janelle Asselin, a genealogist from Nebraska and Iowa with roots in Michigan and Canada who now lives in Wisconsin. Nearly 20 years ago, I fell down the genealogy rabbit hole, and I’m more passionate about it than ever. I see it as a way to combine my curiosity about myself and my family with my love of history. After all, genealogy is history made personal.
I’ve worked as a writer, editor, journalist, and marketer, and I bring all of those skills into my genealogy work. Whether you want a detailed but easy to understand report about your family, an educational presentation for a specific audience, or historical context that can unlock the next level of your research, Prairie Roots Genealogy can help. Contact us now to get started.
Personal Background
Janelle grew up in the Midwest, filled with a wild imagination and a love of reading. In 2005, she began actively pursuing her dream of editing for a living. Janelle’s passion for the written word and improving lives through media is evident in the work she does every day, but over the last two decades, she’s felt the pull of genealogy.
Janelle is the Marketing committee chair for the Irish Genealogical Society International, on the Board of Directors for the American Canadian Genealogical Society, and volunteers in additional capacities for both organizations. She earned her certificate from the National Genealogical Society’s Advanced Skills in Genealogy course and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She also has attended a variety of webinars, institutes, and courses, including attending GRIP virtually in 2025 and taking the course “Effective Listening and Self-Care for Genealogists” through the University of Strathclyde. Janelle plans to pursue certification through the Board for Certification of Genealogists beginning in 2026.
A lifelong scholar, Janelle holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Southern New Hampshire University and an MS in Publishing from Pace University. Janelle received Pace’s 2012 Publishing Award for excellence in the study of publishing for her graduate thesis work. Janelle lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her lovely spouse, four adorable cats, and way too many books.
If you are looking for information on Janelle’s editorial and writing work, you can visit JanelleAsselin.com.
Family History
My parents were both born in Michigan to parents who were also born in Michigan. My paternal grandmother descended from an Irish Canadian father and a Scottish, Irish, and French Canadian mother. My paternal grandfather was 100% French Canadian, as his father was from a long line of Asselins living in Quebec before he moved to Michigan, and his mother was a first generation American born to a French Canadian couple. My dad is one of seven children, giving me a very large extended family.
My maternal grandmother was German, Lithuanian, and French Canadian. Her mother (my great grandmother) was part of a French Canadian family that settled in the Detroit area in the 1700s. My mother’s father was English and German, and his mother (my great grandmother) is the family member that connects me to key moments in American history such as the Civil War and the American Revolution. My mom is one of six children, and although her family isn’t quite as large as my dad’s, there’s plenty to keep me busy as I research.
I grew up visiting my paternal grandparents in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan every summer and developed a deep love for my Michigander roots, despite never having lived there myself. It’s for this reason that my initial pull to genealogy led me to explore my French Canadian heritage. But like many Irish Americans, I grew up hearing tales of Irish emigrant forebears who came to North America looking for a better life. My connections to my French Canadian and Irish ancestry were what I was first interested in researching, but I am branching out all the time to research new aspects of my family history.