Mrs. JOHN K. (Janice Dawn Russett) SCHULTZ 1935-1994

KNEESKERN, RUSSETT, SCHULTZ, BARKER, STEPHAN, BREITSPRECHER, RUSTON, GERBER, REED, ISSERSTEDT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/9/2005 at 16:45:43

Janice Dawn (Russett) Schultz

Janice Dawn Schultz, daughter of Daniel and Dorothy (Kneeskern) Russett, was born January 1, 1935, at Frankville, Iowa She died Tuesday, November 29, 1994 in Winneshiek County Memorial hospital at Decorah, Iowa.

The Russett family moved to Calmar and Jan was graduated from the Calmar High School in 1952. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls from 1953 to 1955. From 1955 to 1958, Jan taught fourth grade at the Cora B. Darling Elementary School in Postville.

On June 14, 1958, Jan was married to John K. Schultz in the United Methodist Church at Calmar, Iowa. They moved to Ames where John was attending Iowa State College. She taught sixth grade at Lincoln Elementary School in Ames.

Upon returning to Postville in 1960, Jan spent her time raising their children, Kent, Deanna, Margaret and Kirk. She was involved in many church activities, which included serving on the Session and Christian Education and Worship Committees. She also taught Sunday School and was a church organist for over 30 years.

As her children grew, she began to substitute teach and to give piano lessons, which she continued to do as long as her health permitted. Strongly committed to her piano teaching, Jan provided the impetus which led to the formation of the Upper Iowa Music Teachers Association and became certified as a teacher of piano by the Iowa Music Teachers Association in 1994. Her love of music and learning was shared with countless students who will carry that gift with them always.

Jan always enjoyed the Norwegian ancestry and traditions which were brought to this country by her paternal grandparents. She was so excited when she was able to set foot on the farm near Bergan, Norway where her grandmother was born and raised. To see and feel the childhood memories of her grandmother was a joyful experience for Jan.

Jan was a second mother to four foreign exchange students, Heikki Leppanen of Finland, Eric Dalawey of the Netherlands, Miho Fuji of Japan and Josua Thyssen of Germany. Her grandchildren were also very important to her, and she spent many hours reading to them and playing games with them.

Jan was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church, the Upper Iowa Music Teachers Association, the NEIACC Foundation Board, the Postville Hospital Board and Monday Club. She was initiated into P. E. O. in 1979 and held several offices, including President.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Dorothy Russett, a brother, Merlin, who died in infancy and her father-in-law, Kenneth Schultz.

Surviving is her husband, John K. Schultz of Postville, a son, Kent J. and his wife, Karen, of Postville, two daughters, Deanna Schultz of Waverly, Margaret and her husband, Todd Barker, of Lenox, Iowa and a son, Kirk and his wife, Nancy, of Urbandale; seven grandchildren, Michelle, April, Jeremiah and Danielle Schultz, and Nathan, Drew, and Kathleen Dawn Barker; four brothers, Randy and Helen Russett of Eustis, Fla., Alan and Elsie Russett of Fairbank, Iowa, Don and Sue Russett of Bloomington, Minn., and Keith Russett of Calmar, four sisters, Laurie and Gerald Stephan of Altura, Minn., Marilyn and Gary Breitsprecher of Ossian, Beverly and Curt Ruston of LaCrosse, Wisc., and Kathy and Allen Gerber of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., her mother-in-law, Mrs. Esther Schultz of Postville, two sisters-in-law, Donna and Larry Reed of Eldora, and Barbara and Glenn Isserstedt of Ann Arbor, Mich; 31 nieces and nephews, 29 great nieces and nephews, many friends and her students.

A memorial service was held Saturday, December 3, 1994 in the community Presbyterian Church in Postville. Harin L. Brown, Interim Pastor officiated, assisted by Rev. Terrance P. Hennesy. John O. Falb was the soloist and Sandra Todd was the organist. Special music was provided by Mrs. Schultz's piano students, Kirsten Lage and Levi Livingood. A piano solo was also performed by her daughter, Deanna Schultz. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Interment was in the Postville Cemetery.

Postville Herald - contributed by Mary Durr