Janet Sue Kloeker, 80, of Seymour, went to be with her Lord at 2:15 a.m. on February 17, 2020 surrounded by her loving family at Lutheran Community Home in Seymour. Janet, known as Sue to many, was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church at Vallonia and confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seymour. Her parents, Virgil and Helena (Achelpohl) Peters, preceded her in death. Janet suffered a massive stroke in November 2016 and resided at Lutheran Community Home.
Janet married Delmar (Del) L. Kloeker at Redeemer and they were blessed with nearly 60 years as husband and wife. She is survived by her husband, three children Sara (Brian) Reedy, Douglas (Lisa) Kloeker, and Dr. Susanne (Greg) Rhoades and three grandchildren Andrew (Kristen) Reedy, Patrick Reedy, and Elizabeth Reedy. Other survivors include her sisters, Darlene Johnson and Anita (Bill) Kraft.
A graduate of Immanuel Lutheran School and Seymour (Shields) High School, Janet co-chaired many of the reunions for her high school class. She attended Indiana State University (formerly Indiana State Teachers College/Indiana State College) in Terre Haute, IN and earned her B.S. and M.S. in Elementary Education with a specialty in Science. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and a Reserve Member of Gamma Tau Delta.
Janet taught school for approximately 30 years, one year in the Tippecanoe County School System and 29 years in the Seymour Community School System. She found fulfillment in teaching science to students at the Seymour Middle School her last nine years. During her teaching tenure, Janet was named SMS Teacher of the Year and was awarded the Jackson County Conservation Teacher of the Year.
Janet’s life was characterized by service to God and others. She was an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and loved to share the Gospel by singing in the Worship Choir, coordinating children’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and managing the Resource Center. For more than 17 years she assisted her sister, Anita, and Kathy Haper in directing the Joyful Noise Choir at Redeemer. Janet and her husband worked tirelessly to renovate the interior of the Veshlage House for use as church offices. She also volunteered at Community Provisions of Jackson County and at Meals on Wheels.
She completed and published genealogies of her maternal grandparents (Achelpohl and Hauer) and paternal grandparents (Peters, Pitt and Roth). The documents were placed in the Jackson County History Center at Brownstown, the Seymour Public Library and the State Genealogical Library at the Allen Country Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN.
Lovingly devoted to her family, Janet was a blessed to be a significant influence in the lives of her grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with family, playing bridge with friends, refinishing woodwork, traveling, and gardening. Janet was famous for her sugar cookies which she joyfully shared with friends, neighbors, church members, and family. She was also known as the Gingerbread Grandma, making gingerbread houses with her grandchildren when they were young. During family trips to National Parks and other destinations, she would always identify teaching opportunities for her co-travelers to make the adventures memorable.
Funeral services will be conducted by Voss & Sons Funeral Service at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Friday, February 21 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Andrew J. Currao and Rev. Joseph J. Barlau officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20 at Voss & Sons Funeral Service and from 9:30 a.m. Friday at Redeemer. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Seymour.
Memorials may be written to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lutheran Community Home or charity of choice, in care of Voss & Sons Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be given on the funeral home website at www.vossfuneralservice.com.
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