Janet Schimming

1945 - 2015

(News story) Janet Schimming, who retired as manager of Owens Community College's campus bookstore after 32 years with the school and who served 17 years on the Woodco Federal Credit Union board, died Tuesday in her Oregon home.

She was 70 and had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer three years ago.

She had served as chairman of the credit union in Perrysburg.

Before starting with Owens, she had worked for Gordon Lumber in the Oak Harbor home office for 2½ years and with Verd-a-Ray Corp. in Toledo. Her work at Owens, however, was her career.

"I always thought she was very good at that job," her sister Rita Busdeker said. "She took that job very serious. She also had fun in life."

Ms. Schimming enjoyed gardening and when she was ill her sister and friends planted flowers around the patio of her apartment.

"We made everything pretty so she'd have something to look at when she was sitting and looking out on the patio," Mrs. Busdeker said.

Ms. Schimming gave much of her time to organizations. She volunteered at ProMedica Bay Park Community Hospital and her church, St. Mark Lutheran Church in East Toledo. She also volunteered for the Marathon Classic and the annual German-American Festival.

"She was always proud to be a part of that," Mrs. Busdeker said.

Ms. Schimming's nephew, Eric Schimming, said his aunt read daily from the Bible.

Mrs. Busdeker said her sister had read daily devotions from the time of her confirmation at age 13.

"That's how devoted she was," Mrs. Busdeker said.

Ms. Schimming was an avid and talented seamstress, sewing holiday dresses for nieces and knitting hats which were donated during wintertime collections.

She enjoyed crocheting, traveling, and reading as well as playing golf and watching basketball at Owens.

Mrs. Busdeker described her sister as independent and giving.

"If you needed somebody to help you do something, you just called her," she said. "She was there. If she didn't have another commitment, she was always there to help you."

Ms. Schimming was born Oct. 12, 1945, to Wilbert and Velta Schimming, growing up on a farm in Graytown.

She attended Graytown Elementary School and graduated in 1963 from Salem Oak Harbor High School. She had long been an Ottawa County 4-H member.

She is survived by her brothers, Norris and Ronald Schimming, and sister, Rita Busdeker.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Freck Funeral Chapel. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in St. Mark Lutheran Church.

The family suggests tributes to Cherry Street Mission, St. Mark Lutheran Church, or a charity of the donor's choice.

This is a news story by Taylor Dungjen. Contact her at tdungjen@theblade.com, 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.