Jan Shambo

Brandenburg-Shambo, Jan

Jan Shambo, age 58, formerly of Marion, WI passed away surrounded by her family on November 13, 2013 in Dallas, TX after a hard fought battle with cancer.

The former Janet Clare Brandenburg was born along with her identical twin sister, Jill (Flink), on August 30, 1955 to Dorothy and Spike (Floyd) Brandenburg of Marion, WI. Jan graduated from Marion High School in 1973 and the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1977 with a degree in Elementary Education. She was united in marriage to Thomas Shambo at St Mary's Catholic Church in Marion on April 1, 1978. Jan and Tom lived in Oshkosh, WI; Pittsburg, PA; Charlotte, NC and Detroit, MI before settling down in Lewisville, TX to raise their family. In 2003, they permanently moved to their summer home on Moss Lake, near Gainesville, TX.

Jan was a volunteer in her community and local school district for many years. With Christmas as her favorite season, she was a natural leader in her involvement with Lewisville's Festival of Trees. Her many acquaintances referred to her as their "gatherer of friends" because of her legendary dinner parties and love of entertaining. She used her collections of pewter, silver, crystal, linens and china to set a majestic table for her friends and family to enjoy while she prepared a home cooked meal. She was an avid collector of antiques, duck decoys, deer antlers and everything Santa Claus. Her other passions included water skiing, boating, jet skiing, bowling, trips to Canton Texas and playing cribbage. She had a unique flair with gifting, decorating and hummingbirds.

Jan was diagnosed with cancer last winter. After major surgery and 18 chemo treatments, Jan returned to water skiing on Moss Lake this past July. In mid-October she returned to Marion with her immediate family for a family reunion and a belated 90th birthday party for her Mother, Dorothy Brandenburg. The Shambo's were able to visit at length with Jan's extended family, friends, classmates and neighbors. The event was graced with an impromptu performance by Mike Daley and her cousin, Bill Hurley along with a few songs sung by Jill's granddaughter Alexis, age 6.

Four days before her passing, on Saturday, November 9th, with her twin sister, Jill Flink, her immediate family and over 50 friends at her side, Jan participated in Purple Stride, a 5K walk for pancreatic cancer in downtown Dallas. Her team wore "I support Jan" so "Raise your Glass" tee shirts including a silhouette of a water skier. Afterwards, Jan and her team celebrated their achievement at her favorite Dallas restaurant.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Shambo; one son, Guy Shambo of Frisco, TX; one daughter, Jill Williams, a son-in-law Chris Williams and one granddaughter, Brooke Elizabeth Williams, all of Dallas, TX. Jan is further survived by her mother, Dorothy Brandenburg of Woodruff, WI (formerly of Marion,); her identical twin sister, Jill Flink & Mike, Marion; one brother, Mark Brandenburg of Redondo Beach, CA; two sisters, Teri Stecker & Jim, Eagle River, WI; Kay Hatch & Craig, Woodruff, WI; several nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her father, Spike (Floyd) Brandenburg and several aunts and uncles.

A tribute of her life was held at the Royal Affairs Ballroom in Lewisville, TX on Monday, November 18th. With the help of many, including her bowling team members and the S-Club (her group from Moss Lake), the ballroom was transformed into a room filled with memories of Jan.

Memorial donations may be made, on her behalf, to a charity of your choice or Jan's favorite charity, St Jude's Children's Hospital.