Janice R. Schmitz, 68, of Baileyville, Kansas, died early Wednesday morning, March 9, 2011, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

Janice Rae Schmitz was born on November 29, 1942 in Pawnee City, Nebraska to Harold and Valaira Chadima Schneider. She attended Garrison Country School and graduated from Summerfield High School in 1960. After graduation, she worked in Marysville as a nanny.

On November 22, 1962 she married Leon M. Schmitz at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. The couple made their home and farmed northwest of St. Benedict, where they raised five children. They celebrated 46 years of marriage before Leon’s death on September 26, 2009.

In 1988, Janice began working for Judy’s Floral in Seneca. In 1991, she became a housekeeper for Unified School District 451 in Baileyville, a position she held for numerous years. Janice was very active in the Democratic Party, serving on the Nemaha County Democratic Party Committee; she helped on the Clear Creek Township Election Board for many years. She was a 4-H leader and was active in the Pork Council representing Nemaha County in Washington, DC on more than one occasion. Janice was an avid reader, enjoyed knitting, horses, fashion, and in her later years, traveling.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the St. Ann’s Altar at the church in St Benedict.

Survivors are her son, Chris Schmitz of Randolph; daughters, Shelly Hasenkamp of Baileyville, Sherri Bohland of Blue Springs, Missouri, Susie Smith of Derby, Kansas and Shannon Schmitz of Tonganoxie, Kansas; a sister, Vicki Fell of Olpe, Kansas; and 11 grandchildren.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Patrick Allen in 1965.

Family will meet with friends from 6 to 8 PM Friday, March 11, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 AM Saturday, March 12, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict by Fr. Ed Oen C.P.P.S. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given in Janice’s memory for the St. Francis Cancer Care Center in Topeka, and sent in care of the family.