Janet "Jan" E. Schmude, 87, of Oshkosh, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at ThedaCare in Neenah, surrounded by her children.

She was born on July 25, 1939, in Sutton, Nebraska, to Edmund and Clara (Traudt) Ochsner. Jan graduated from Sutton High School in 1957 where she was a cheerleader, the cartoonist for the school newspaper, a drummer in band, and queen of the high school dance. During Jan's senior year, she created a painting that won the national Hallmark award and represented the state of Nebraska in Washington D.C.

On November 22, 1958, she married Ervin Schmude in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They were married for 67 years before his passing on June 2, 2026. Together, they had three children.

Jan worked a number of part-time jobs while raising her family, the longest at Miles Kimball in Oshkosh from where she retired. She was a faithful member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Winneconne.

Jan enjoyed flower gardening and bird watching. Each year, she anxiously awaited Spring so she could purchase flowers to plant at their home in Winneconne and later on the patio of their apartment in Oshkosh. Jan loved decorating for the holidays especially Halloween. Never learning to drive, she appreciated the many road trips with her daughter, Candy, searching for antiques and collectibles.

Before health issues prevented many activities, Jan and Erv filled their retirement years by attending local stock car races, displaying their 1947 Mercury Coupe at car shows and parades, selling at flea markets and toy shows, polka dancing, lunching with friends, and supporting their grandchildren at many sporting events.

Jan was a devoted fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Golden State Warriors. She enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and western movies and shows, especially Gunsmoke.

She is survived by her loving family, daughters, Candy (Warren) Luce and Cheri Reese; son, AJ (Deanna) Schmude; grandchildren, Becky Mueller, Jenny (Jeremy) Case, Chrissy Reese, Colby Schmude and Grayson Schmude; and great-grandchildren, Gibson Mueller, Frehley Mueller, Marshall Mueller, and John Case; as well as other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Erv, Jan was preceded in death by her brothers, Donald, Milton and Gerald Ochsner; her sisters, Aldine Griess and Ramona Linblad; her parents-in-law, Roy and June Schmude; and sister-in-law, Betty (Schmude) Loos.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, on September 3, 2026, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church (8 S. 4th St., Winneconne, WI 54986). The visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial for Jan has been established with St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Winneconne.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Bella Vista in Oshkosh where she lived for the past year, as well as the staff at ThedaCare 2nd floor neurology and hospice for their kindness and compassion shown to Jan during her final days.

"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all." Michael Landon