A funeral service for Janet K. Schmidt will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jean Clayton and Reverend Jan Gluth King officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.
Janet Kay “Jan” Schmidt, 79 years of age, of North Platte, Nebraska, formerly of Holdrege passed away on July 11, 2024, at the home of her oldest son Jay Schmidt. He and his wife Christine were acting as caregivers for the last years of her life. Jan was born in Holdrege on February 11, 1945, the fifth child, born to Albert and Olive (Vandament) Schroeder. Jan was raised on a farm in Harlan County and went to Mascot School, later graduating from Oxford High School with the class of 1963.
On November 27, 1966, Janet was united in marriage to Leroy Schmidt at the United Methodist Church in Oxford, Nebraska. They were blessed with two sons: Jay and Jeff. The couple made their first home in Minden, Nebraska. In 1972 they moved to Holdrege where they lived until the final years of their lives.
Jan worked part-time as her boys were growing up and eventually went full-time at the Phelps County Courthouse in the Treasurer’s Office where she served for 40-plus years. She loved working with the public and very much enjoyed knowing generations of people coming to pay taxes and receiving their driver’s licenses.
Jan was very involved with her bowling team and bridge clubs. She also enjoyed attending Oxford High School class reunions and socializing with her classmates. Jan was a lifelong fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
She was the mother of two Eagle Scouts and grandmother to three more. She took great pride in helping with Scouting for many years even after her boys were out.
She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege where she worked on several committees and was part of the ladies’ groups.
Jan was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Leroy; her parents; one grandson, Matt Schmidt; her mother-in-law and father-in-law; her oldest sister, Joann Schroeder Warrick and her husband, Rolland; baby sister, Alene Schroeder who died at birth; her sister-in-law, Grace Schroeder; nephew, Mike Schroeder; brother-in-law, Robert Broeker; nephew, Keith Broeker; sister-in-law, Joyce King and her husband, Bill; nephew, Raymond King; and brother-in-law, Arnold Groothuis.
Jan leaves to celebrate her life her two sons: Jay Schmidt and his wife, Christine of North Platte; Jeff Schmidt of Kearney, Nebraska; four grandchildren: Nicole Kramer and her husband, Charles of Hastings, Nebraska; Brett Schmidt and his wife, Nikki of North Platte; Megan Schmidt of York, Nebraska; Jordan Schmidt of Lincoln, Nebraska; five great-grandchildren: Jayleah, Emmet, and Lily Kramer; Rohan and Elliot Schmidt; one brother, Bob Schroeder of Boise, Idaho; one sister, Donna Dallmann and her husband, Myron of Franklin, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law: Ruby Groothuis of Funk, Nebraska; and Carol Porter and her husband, Don of Grand Island, Nebraska; also a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends at the Nelson Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.
Memorials in Janet’s honor are suggested to the family for a later designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.