Janice D. Schmidt

Janice Dorothy (Christofferson) Schmidt of Kenyon, MN, passed away on August 27, 2025.

Janice was born in Owatonna, MN, to Wilbur and Eleanor (Dietz) Christofferson on June 18, 1947. She grew up with four brothers and three sisters on a farm in rural Owatonna that would later become a place of enchantment to her children. Janice attended Pratt Country School and graduated from Owatonna High School. She then enrolled in nursing school at Saint Mary's in Rochester, MN, because she wanted to help people. She became certified as a Registered Nurse. She moved to Tucson, AZ, in 1970 and soon relocated to Phoenix, AZ. It was there that she met her roommate's cousin, Louis Schmidt, from Garner, IA, on a blind date during his shore leave from the US Navy. They were married on July 8, 1972, and eventually settled in Phoenix when Louis was accepted into the Phoenix Police Academy. Janice continued her work as an RN and spent the majority of her career as a nurse for a private practice, until she retired in 1995. She raised two daughters in a land void of any immediate family or resemblance of Midwest culture; but she integrated, somewhat seamlessly, to the climate, food, and lifestyle of the Great Southwest.

Janice was an unofficial master gardener and could grow African violets and orchids that would turn anyone's thumb green with envy. She was a proficient seamstress who could work absolute magic, sewing anything from her children's clothing to their Halloween costumes. She later became an avid quilter, giving many of her pieces of art as gifts or donating them to the Ronald McDonald House. She was a wonderful cook who will most likely be remembered for her potato salad that no one could ever forget. She loved to read; if you were to count the number of books she read in her lifetime, it would rival the entire collection of a library. Janice passed these passions along to her daughters and grandchildren, and always encouraged their creativity. She instilled a deep respect for the planet, and the animals and humans that call it home; unto them as well. She never shied away from bringing home a creature or a person needing help in an emergency situation.

After they retired, Lou and Jan moved back to the Midwest, where they made their home on a hobby farm outside of Kenyon, MN; a place that has become a land of enchantment for their two grandchildren- complete with a sewing room, extensive garden space, and chickens.

Janice was a member of the local Literary Guild, Priscilla Club Quilters Guild, and volunteered her time at Assisi Heights in Rochester MN. Janice was kind, humble, caring, and generously shared her talents with others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two infant siblings, sister Donna (Reese), brother David, sister-in-law Delores, brother-in-law Gary Conlin, father-in-law Roland Schmidt, brother-in-law Michael Schmidt, and infant great-nephews Phil Schroeder and Soren Christofferson.

She is survived by her husband Louis, daughters Kellie Schmidt and Sara (Lance) Horst, grandchildren Ella and Damien Horst, brothers: Wayne, Clyde (Linda), and Lysle: sisters Gayle (Scott) Kozelka and Julie Conlin; sister-in-law Cheryl Christofferson; mother-in-law Lucille (Copen) Schmidt, sisters-in-law: Michelle (Curt) Doble, Mary (Tom) Hyde, Jennifer (Tim) Esbeck; and brother-in-law Gregory (Bonnie) Schmidt; as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for the fall. The family requests that any donations made in Janice's name be directed to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) and/or Assisi Heights (rochesterfranciscan.org).