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Janis Rae Craig Schanbacher, a resident of Hannibal, Missouri, passed away peacefully at the age of 91, September 8, 2020, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Due to the current COVID environment the services for Janis will be a private family funeral service held on Friday, September 18, 2020, at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Hannibal. Pastor Eric Carlson will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand View Burial Park.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date when it is safe for all.
Friends may pay their respects and sign the register book between 1:00 & 4:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2020, at the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel in Hannibal.
Family and friends may view the service live via Facebook under the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel page at 10:00 am on Friday. The service may also be viewed on Janis' memorial page Friday afternoon at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com.
Jan was born May 29, 1929, to Arthur E. and Evelyn Blanche Craig in Charleston, Illinois. She was married to Albert G. Schanbacher, February 11, 1951. Survivors include one daughter, Pamela Hesterlee (Dr. Edward Hesterlee) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; one son, James Scott Schanbacher(Kenneth Sherman) of Westwood, KS, one grandson, Justin Hesterlee (Kristin Hesterlee) of Atlantic Beach, FL, one granddaughter, Stephanie Hesterlee of Jacksonville, FL, one great-grandson, Landon Hesterlee of Atlantic Beach, Florida, one great granddaughter, Luna Hesterlee of Jacksonville, FL, and one great-great granddaughter, Peyton Rae Hesterlee of Atlantic Beach, FL.
Mrs. Schanbacher was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a son, David Craig Schanbacher.
Jan was an elementary school teacher while her husband was serving in Korea, during the war. Once her children were born, and Abe returned home, she devoted her time to her family, and was a stay at home Mom.
Jan was one of the most active 91 year olds you ever saw. In her younger days, she was an avid golfer and tennis player, and still loved following both sports on TV. She loved to play bridge, was an avid reader and active in her book club, and was very proud of having been treasurer of HER’S (her investment club) for many years. She loved to travel, and traveled internationally for many years with a couple of Hannibal travel groups. She also traveled frequently with her son, David, until his death. Any chance she got, she would catch a ride to KC to spend time with her son Jim and Ken. She enjoyed spending the winters with her family in Florida. She frequently joined her daughter playing bridge and participating in her book club. Most of all, she enjoyed the ocean, watching golf, and her grand and great-grandchildren, who she adored!
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the University of Missouri Alumni Association, and Chi Omega Sorority. She was a past president, and member of P.E.O. Chapter BR, HERS Investment Club, GFWC Women’s Club of Hannibal, and the Luther Manor Auxiliary.
Jan loved living in Hannibal. She always tried to participate in as much as she could to keep all that Hannibal had to offer going strong. She has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Viking cruise ships. From her house she would have had a great view of the ships docking.
Pallbearers will be Justin Hesterlee, Stephanie Hesterlee, Dr. Steve Halpin, Paul Richards, Don Bastian and Rob Parham.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church or the Hannibal Arts Council, in care of the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.
Online condolences may be made to the family, video tribute viewed and funeral service viewed on Janis' memorial page at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com
Justin’s Facebook Post:
Today we lost the matriarch of our family, our best friend, our mom, our Grandma, and our GiGi (Great Grandma). Sadly, we have taken our last “Four Generations” pictures... for a while anyway.
She was simply the best. It’s impossible to put to words the 91 years that she lived, the way she lived them, and particularly the last 21 years where she inspired and impressed beyond expectations. If you knew her, you know what I mean. Wow, what a life!
Today we are hurting, we are sad, maybe a little broken, and it’s going to take some time to heal. But soon we will find peace in the memories we had and the love we were fortunate enough to experience.
I love you grandma... Love you so much.
Pam’s Facebook Post:
To all our family and friends. Mom passed away very peacefully this morning in Ponte Vedra Beach. Her heart was just not strong enough to get her stronger again. She now knows the joys of heaven and has been reunited with my brother and Dad along with many more of her family and friends.
Mom had a wonderful life and believed in living it all to the fullest. She was never one to say no to any invitation. Always ready to go out for a good time. She still lived alone in her 2 story house on the river, flew back and forth to FL, and even drove to KC for Thanksgiving. She loved to play bridge, go to book club, P.E.O. and investment club, Hannibal Arts Council and meet up with her friends at the club. I do believe that she has more friends than me. You would never know that she was 91 years young.
Hopefully I will always remember Mom's life and know that you do not put anything off until tomorrow. Tomorrow is not a guarantee.
Because of the COVID situation we will probably have a celebration of life when it is safe to do so. Smith's funeral home will be taking care of the details of the funeral.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janis Rae Schanbacher, please visit our floral store.
St. John's Lutheran Church
1317 Lyon Street, Hannibal MO 63401
Tel: 1-573-221-0615
Web: http://www.stjohnshannibal.org
Hannibal Arts Council
105 South Main Street, Hannibal MO 63401
Tel: 1-573-221-6545
Web: http://www.hannibalarts.com