Janice Ann C. Schwanke

Janice Ann Charlotta (Olsen) Schwanke, age 92, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024.  Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Watertown.  Rev. Paul Kuckhahn will officiate.  The funeral service will be live-streamed via our website www.crawfordosthus.com.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday, August 30, 2024, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Active pallbearers will be all of Janice’s Grandchildren. 

Janice was born on April 30, 1932, in rural Hayti, SD, to Lawrence and Christina (Stormo) Olsen.  Janice's formative education began at a country school, later graduated from Hayti High School in 1950.  Her dedication to learning led her to further her education at Black Hills State College where she got her teaching degree. It was during her tenure as a teacher in Appleby Country School, that she met the love of her life, Marvin Schwanke.  Janice and Marvin were married on December 19, 1954.  They owned and operated Lake City Dairy Farm along with her sister, Carol and Ferdy Tesch.

Janice was a member of St. Martin's Lutheran Church where she was active in several roles, including ladies aid and chairing the funeral committee for years.  As a member of the Watertown School Board, she was a staunch advocate for education.  Her love of working with children led her to be a 4-H leader of the Farmerettes 4-H Club so that she could guide young girls in developing their skills and passions.  She also enthusiastically enjoyed being a member of the Foley Garden Club and sharing her love of nature with others. 

Janice was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She valued spending time with her family, especially when her grandchildren came to visit.  She also enjoyed taking trips across the country with the girls in her family, whom she lovingly referred to as “Janice’s Jewels.”  Her love of being a mom extended past her own children to cousins and to all of her children’s friends who came to the farm.  She was affectionately known as “Ma Schwanke” to many.

Janice is survived by her children, Kay (Gary) Twedt, of Larchwood, IA, Lee (Lisa) Schwanke, of Lakeville, MN, Bob (Kathleen) Schwanke, of Camarillo, CA, and Paul (Sheila) Schwanke, of Watertown, SD; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one brother-in-law, Jerry (Donna) Schwanke, of Camas, WA.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one son, David; one daughter-in-law, Catherine Schwanke.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bramble Park Zoo at https://give.cornerstone.cc/brambleparkzoo or the American Cancer Society. 

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant, Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham

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