Janet R. (LaSee) Schaefer Courtney, 85, Marshfield, passed away on Friday, November 26, 2021 at Marshfield Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 am on Friday, December 3, 2021 at St. John’s Catholic Church, Marshfield, where the visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time. Rev. Daniel Williams will officiate. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Bob LaSee, Steve LaSee, Joseph Schaefer, Ryan Schaefer, Tanner Tyrolt and Andrew Heiman. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Janet was born at home on February 5, 1936 in rural Stratford, to Harold and Verna (Krauter) LaSee. She attended St. Joseph Grade School and was a 1954 graduate of Stratford High School. She married Roman Schaefer, Jr. on June 14, 1958. That union brought forth five children, Christine, David, (he was a “blue baby” and only lived a few hours). In 1960 the baby’s funeral was held while Ma was still in the hospital. Then followed Carla, Russell and Dean. They were married 20 years. Later she married Maurice Courtney in 1985.
Jan was employed as a secretary at St. Joseph’s Hospital, McMillan Insurance, Wood County Health Department and then the Dental Clinic of Marshfield.
Besides working outside the home, our mother worked very hard raising four children on the farm. She had a big garden and often raised chickens. Our help was required – not optional – to help run the household. Our dad said no one could make a penny go further than our mother. Many years later she told us kids that she was raised poor and was always afraid of being poor.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, politics and listening to classical music. She attended many retreats at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center. She enjoyed the Wall Street Journal, the Apt. Association meetings and the Senior Center Craft ladies group. In later years she enjoyed traveling and especially spending a few weeks in Florida or Arizona in the winter. But most of all she liked to save money. She said once that she’d rather starve than to pay interest. Lastly, she loved her siblings. She had a special connection with her brother James, to whom we are grateful and thankful for the attention he gave our mother which included mowing her lawn and getting her the Wall Street Journal.
She is survived by her children, Christine Schaefer, Carla (Marvin) Mannigel, Russell (Brenda) Schaefer and Dean Schaefer, all of Marshfield. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Brittney Rae (Andy) Heiman, Ryan Schaefer, Sarah (Tanner) Tyrolt and Joseph Schaefer plus three great grandchildren. She is further survived by brothers, James (Catherine) LaSee of Stratford, and Roger LaSee of Marshfield, and sisters, Carol (Allen) Bauer of Spencer, Joan (Tom) Zygarlicke of Marshfield and Helen (Jim) Losleben of Minnesota and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, David in 1960 and brothers, Gilbert and Jerry LaSee and husband Maurice Courtney.
Memorials may designated in her name to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
