Janet R. Schoppel

JANET R. SCHOPPEL FORMERLY OF VALPARAISO AND HAMLET, IN
Janet R. 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. Janet earned 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, IL and taught at Culver Elementary in 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. Unflappable under dynamic conditions and pressure, Jan was known as a persevering and thorough individual with strong technical skills. Chicago area organizations for whom she worked or consulted include: Microlab, Kemper Financial, Abbott Labs, Sears, Kraft, Allstate, and Wilton. Jan loved to play sports, but she was especially fond of snow skiing, tennis, and sailing. Willard Brown, a former teacher of Janet's, recently said that Jan was one of the best female athletes he had ever seen. When she was 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 LaCrosse. In high school, she played on a women's semi-pro softball team, and Valparaiso Queens. 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; and a past member of the board of directors of the Lake Shore Ski Club, where she published the newsletter for 1,300 members as director of communications. Jan is survived by a sister, Mary Jo (and David) Finley of Plymouth, IN; two brothers: Brian (Linda) Schoppel of Fairland, IN and Ralph Schoppel of Ann Arbor, MI. She is also survived by two nieces: Christa Finley of Burlington, VT and Andrea Finley of Plymouth, IN; and best friend, Alice Baehler, Skokie, IL. Jan's funeral service will be held Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. (central time) at the Hamlet United Methodist Church, Hamlet, IN with calling an hour before the service. Visitation will be Friday, May 24, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. (central time) at Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet, IN. Burial will take place at Fletcher Cemetery Hamlet, IN. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date at Edison Park Community United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 651 W. Washington Blvd., Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60661.