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Janis Schmitz
JANIS JEAN SCHMITZ
Cedar Rapids
Janis Jean Schmitz, 85, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, at Arbor Place in The Meth-Wick Community. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Teahen Funeral Home by Chaplain Christine Wagner-Hecht. Burial: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Taylorville Cemetery, Arlington. Friends may visit with the family from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home and during lunch following the funeral.
Janis is survived by her children, Kayla Klingman (John Wallner) of Portland, Ore., Julie Schmitz of Pittsburgh, Pa., Brian (Donna) Schmitz and Christopher (Rose) Schmitz, both of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Roger (Wendy) Schmitz, Doug Schmitz and Alan Schmitz, all of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, Justin (Sabrina) Schmitz, Ashley Schmitz, Jamelia Hershiser and Jacqueline Hershiser; two great-grandchildren; and sister, Phyllis (Richard) Drake of Radcliffe.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Loy Klingman in 1968 and Kenneth Schmitz in 2008.
Janis was born April 9, 1933, in Fayette County, the daughter of Raymond and Ida Scheve Fink. She graduated from Oran High School in 1950, Wartburg College in 1952 with a teaching certificate, and a B.A. (1962) and M.A. (1970) in elementary education from the University of Iowa.
Janis married Loy Klingman on July 24, 1955. She met Kenneth Schmitz at Parents without Partners and married him in Ottumwa on Oct. 7, 1972. Janis loved teaching kids to read and devoted her time teaching first through third grades. She began teaching in Arlington in 1952, and with the Cedar Rapids Community School District from 1960, retiring in 1997. In 1985, as part of the teacher exchange program, Janis taught in Melbourne, Australia. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church for almost 60 years.
Janis loved traveling, and with Friendship Force had visitors and friends from around the world. She especially enjoyed family times and will be deeply missed.
Janis loved the caregivers and living at Arbor Place at The Meth-Wick Community. The family would like to give a special thanks to them.
Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or to The Meth-Wick Community, 1224 13th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405.
Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
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