Jan Schoppel

Janet R. "Jan" Schoppel, 62, of Chicago, formerly Valparaiso and Hamlet, IN, died at 3:40 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, at Evanston NorthShore University Hospital, Evanston, IL. Janet was born November 28, 1950, in LaPorte, IN, to Beulah A. (Christoph) and Edward S. Schoppel. She graduated in 1969 from Oregon-Davis High School, Hamlet, IN, and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 1973 from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, and a master’s degree in education in 1979 from Valparaiso University. She taught sixth grade from 1973 to 1978 at Oregon-Davis; and language arts from 1978 to 1981 at Porter County Schools, Valparaiso. In 1981 Jan moved to Evanston and taught at Culver Elem., Niles, IL, before transitioning to become an international and national award-winning, senior-level, technical communications professional for information systems and software publishing. She specialized in project management and creative problem solving for Chicago-area companies including MicroLab, Kemper Financial, Abbott Labs, Sears, Kraft, Allstate and Wilton. Unflappable under dynamic conditions and pressure, Jan was known as a persevering and thorough individual with strong technical skills. Who loved playing sports more than Jan? She especially enjoyed snow skiing, tennis and sailing. Teacher Willard Brown said she was one of the best female athletes he had ever seen. In eighth grade, she beat members of the LaCrosse varsity basketball team at the game 21. Her Uncle Jack was so proud, he told everyone in town. In high school, she played on a women’s semi-pro softball team, the Valparaiso Queens. In college she learned to play tennis, enjoying it throughout her life. The passage of Title IX in 1972 came too late to benefit Jan. She played park-league softball, golf and competitive tennis, until recently. Jan was a member of Edison Park Community United Church of Christ, Chicago; Alpha Phi International Fraternity; the board of directors, communications director and newsletter editor of the 1,300-member Lake Shore Ski Club, and a crew that competitively raced a 45’ sailboat on Lake Michigan. She is survived by a sister, Mary Jo (and David) Finley, Plymouth, IN, two brothers, Brian (and Linda) Schoppel, Fairland, and Ralph Schoppel, Ann Arbor, MI. She is also survived by two nieces: Christa Finley, Burlington, VT, and Andrea Finley, Plymouth, and best friend, Alice Baehler, Skokie, IL. Jan’s funeral service will be at 11 a.m. (central time) Saturday, May 25, at the Hamlet United Methodist Church, Hamlet, IN, with calling an hour before the service. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. (central time) Friday, May 24, at Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet, IN. Burial will take place at Fletcher Cemetery, Hamlet. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date at Edison Park Community United Church of Christ, Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 651 W. Washington Blvd., Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60661.