Janice Ann Schrank

Janice Ann Schrank

Appleton, Wisc.

Jan Schrank, 91, passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022 after a brief stay at Touchmark Assisted Living. While she tired easily in these last few months, she remained alert and sharp to the end, which, thankfully, was peaceful but much quicker than we had expected.

She was born on Dec 5, 1930, in Horicon, Wi, the daughter of Gordon and Bess (Cole) Kavolski. Her father had a small hardware store which failed when he could not bring himself to collect debts owed by his customers during the depression. He then went on to work for Gardner Manufacturing. Her mother was a high school English and Drama teacher, which was the path Jan also followed.

She studied English and Latin, with a minor in Geology, at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she met her future husband, Joseph Schrank, who was studying engineering. While Joe was finishing his Air Force service in Morocco, North Africa, Jan taught in Waupaca and Manawa, Wisconsin.

Jan and Joe first lived in Madison, WI but soon moved to Appleton WI, where Joe was Division Manager for the Wisconsin-Michigan Power Company (now Wisconsin Electric). While raising her 4 children, Jan also taught religious education classes for her home parish of St. Mary’s and was very active in her neighborhood, church and local book and garden clubs. She took care of Joe during his decline into early onset Alzheimer’s until his death in 2008.

Jan was energetic and intelligent; an exceptional reader with strong interests in biology, geology, history and the natural world outside her windows. She enjoyed her garden, feeding backyard birds and gave her heart to a series of small dogs... and the occasional cat. She was still living in her own home right up until the spring of 2022, when her struggle with heart and mobility issues forced her to move through a series of care facilities, eventually arriving at Touchmark on Prospect in Appleton, WI.

Jan is survived by her 4 children: daughter, Ann, and her husband Lahcen Oubaha; son, Andrew, and his wife, Kim; son, Chuck, and his wife, Stephanie Foye; and daughter, Mary.

She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren, Mitchell Schrank; Brandon Henning; Courtney McKnight and her husband Jake; Aceif Oubaha; and Sophie Oubaha.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe; her sister Judy (Kavolski) Binder; her brother-in-law Duane (Ben) Binder and far too many of her dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday December 15 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 312 State St, Appleton, WI. There will be an informal visitation at St. Mary’s from 9:00 until the time of service, followed by luncheon in the parish hall. There will be no graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Fox Valley Humane Society or to St. Joseph’s Food Program.

We would like to thank the many friends, neighbors and caregivers who appreciated and supported Jan in so many ways throughout the years. Your kindness helped make Jan’s life a full and happy one