SCHEFFERT, Janice (1943-2019)

SCHEFFERT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/27/2019 at 17:02:14

Janice Kay Scheffert
(July 14, 1943 - May 5, 2019)

Janice Kay (Marsh) Scheffert is the daughter of Dale and Velma (Hyde) Jaspersen and the older sister of John Marsh. Jan attended country school through the 8th grade and finished high school early at the age of 16. Jan learned to play the piano during her school years which served as a source of pleasure throughout her entire life. Following high school, Jan continued her education by studying business at a school for professionals in Omaha, Nebraska.
While living and working in Cedar Rapids, Jan was introduced to her future husband, Virgil “Dean” Scheffert, through mutual friends. Jan’s parents accepted Dean because he had eyes similar in appearance to the family’s beloved dog, Spot. Dean and Jan were united in marriage on June 14, 1964 and left Iowa to Olympia, Washington where Dean served in the United States Army. During their time in Olympia, Jan worked at the Washington State Capitol. Dean and Jan returned to Iowa and were living in Cedar Rapids when they had their first child, Korinne. In 1967, the family moved to Marion, Iowa where both sons, Michael and Steven, were born. Dean’s employment took the family of five to Indianola, Iowa in 1972 where Jan remained through the rest of her life.
Jan was strong in faith and enjoyed her membership at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola. The Scheffert family found comfort in the routine of Friday night pizza, Saturday night steak dinners, and Sunday popcorn and movie evenings. Jan always supported the children in their pursuit of their extracurricular activities - Korinne’s musical talent with the oboe, Michael’s bowling and golf games, and Steven’s sport of baseball. Dean was the recipient of Jan’s support during his many hours of tennis playing where his tennis friends referred to his wife as “Saint Jan.” She was always willing to share in her husband’s beloved hobbies no matter how early or how long were the hours. Jan, along with her family, have long been loyal fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes. While the Hawkeyes gave the family many hours of shared enjoyment and fodder for conversation, it was quite often that Jan was known to have to remind Dean, “Hon, it’s just a game!”
Retirement offered Jan the opportunity to spend time engaged in her favorite hobbies. She loved to fish, do crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, play the piano, and bowl. Jan had some favorite television shows including Jeopardy, 60 Minutes, and Andy Griffith. She was especially displeased with interruptions during her shows. Jan’s family relished her cooking and especially when Jan prepared a meal to create memorable holidays with family. It was rare that her grandchildren, Jesse and Natalie, didn’t request Jan’s strawberry fruit cocktail jello salad or their Canada fishing expedition friends didn’t request Jan’s tasty cole slaw. Jan never missed the opportunity to watch Natalie sing in school chorus concerts and she made sure to be present as often as possible when Jesse was playing baseball. Jan’s grandchildren, without a doubt, knew that they were loved by their grandmother.
Dean and Jan enjoyed many trips together with friends to Canada where they all spent hours fishing and being outdoors. They also revisited Olympia, Washington several decades after leaving their first marital home. Jan enjoyed trips to northeast Iowa where they fished the Mississippi River and united with family during reunions. Jan also made regular trips to the Clear Lake, Iowa area where her brother, John, continues to live on the family farm and where she could visit her aging father who is still alive at the age of 96. Jan held close to many friendships, near and far, and she so loved her many extended family members.
In the final hours of Jan’s life, she spoke of being with her son, Steven, who passed away in 1982 at the age of 10, along with her first grandson, Blake, who passed away in 2000, whose life on Earth was eleven days. She also spoke of being with her mother who preceded her in death. When Korinne asked her, “Mom, do you see them… are you with them?” Jan responded, “My beautiful boy!” The loss of these three beloved family members was something Jan carried with her throughout her adult life, but she was comforted by the sighting of a cardinal or an extra attentive butterfly. The family also benefited from the love and support of their extended families and many friends.
Jan was greeted in Heaven by her mother, Velma (Hyde) Jaspersen, son Steven Scheffert, grandson Blake Paulsen, nephew Jeffrey Houg, and niece Erica Benson. Jan will be missed by her husband, Dean, of nearly 55 years along with her two children, Korinne and Michael. She is also survived by her father, Dale (Caroline) Marsh, her brother, John (Caryll) Marsh, and grandchildren, Jesse and Natalie Paulsen, as well as many friends and extended family members. Rest assured, Jan is lovingly watching over her family and friends who are facing their own challenges. Family members and friends, just like Jan, will be comforted when visited by an extra attentive cardinal or butterfly and will be reminded of the newest angel who will always be with them.
Visitation will be held 4 to 8:00 pm on Monday, May 13, 2019 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with family present from 5 to 8:00 pm. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola. Burial of the cremains will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to the Janice Scheffert Memorial Fund or to the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/