Janet Schauer, of Vero Beach, passed away on Feb. 26, 2015.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years Warren; four sons Robert (MaryJo), Dr. Mark (Cynthia), Dr. Jon (Anastasia), Joel (Katherine); 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She will be greeted in Heaven with unrestrained enthusiasm by her eleventh grandchild, Anastasia.
Nearing the end of a joyous and fulfilling life, Schauer was admitted to the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach where she was attended to by exceptional care givers in a warm and hospitable atmosphere. She was given to the Lord at sunrise on Feb. 26, after a prolonged battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
She was born in 1932 in Maybee, Mich., the last of 11 brothers and sisters. Upon reflection on this long line of siblings, her favorite family tale was that her parents kept looking for the perfect child and finally found one upon her birth.
Schauer was a graduate of Girl’s Catholic Central High School in Detroit, Mich., and attended Wayne State University thereafter. Later, encouraged by a mentor who suggested she should travel the world by joining the airline industry, she became a stewardess with United Airlines domiciled first in New Jersey and subsequently in Chicago. A notable highlight was a UAL flight out of Midway Airport in 1955 containing many Chicago personalities that was the first to land at newly created O’Hare Field. She was selected to serve as director of stewardess service aboard that inaugural flight.
At a football game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, Schauer met her future husband, Warren, whom she married in 1955. After ending her employment with United, she was active in Clipped Wings, a national organization of former and current UAL flight attendants, helping to form the O’Hare Chapter, and assisted in their primary endeavor, Special Olympics, raising funds and attending Olympic events both in the USA and abroad.
Additionally, she taught the Edmark reading program for many years at Countryside Center for People with Disabilities in Palatine, Ill., and also served on their board of directors. Amongst these activities, she managed to successfully raise four sons following them through their primary educational years through an assortment of volunteer duties.
She was a devoted mother, inspiring and instilling in her children a love of nature, science and philanthropy. After moving to Florida in 1991, she continued her interest in education by mentoring young students at Beachland Elementary School. Her devotion to volunteer work included many years as a member of the Auxiliary of the Indian River Medical Center. She is a past member of the Moorings Club and the Vero Beach Yacht Club.
Schauer will always be remembered as a woman of deep and unwavering faith who nurtured and uplifted everyone around her. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, she may be remembered with donations to the VNA Hospice House, 901 37th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 2. Interment will be private at the Crestlawn Cemetary in Vero Beach. A guestbook is available online at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
