Janice F. Ladendorf
December 17, 1944–January 29, 2023
Janice Fay Ladendorf (nee Friedrich), of St. Charles, Missouri passed away January 29, 2023 at the age of 78. Loving wife of Gene Ladendorf; beloved daughter of the late Carl and Emma Friedrich; devoted mother of Jana (David) Leppien and Mark (Christine Mrakotsky) Ladendorf; cherished grandmother of Meagan (Brandon) Poole, Hannah (Caleb) Seidel, Emma Leppien, Caroline Ladendorf, Stefan Ladendorf and the late Seth Leppien; treasured great-grandmother of Mabel Poole and one on the way; dear sister of Karen (Bruce) Finne, James (Jessica) Friedrich and William (Jan) Friedrich; sister-in-law of Robert Ladendorf and aunt to many.
Jan was born on December 17, 1944, in Bagley, Minnesota. She was baptized by her father, a Lutheran minister. Jan spent her early years in Rosemount, Minnesota until she was 14 and her family moved to Wessington Springs, South Dakota where she graduated from high school in 1962. She married the love of her life Gene Ladendorf on August 5, 1967.
Jan earned her B.Ed. in Elementary Education from Concordia St. Paul, Minnesota in 1966 and her M.S. in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in 1981.
Jan spent 35 years in the teaching ministry. She primarily taught 2nd grade but could also be found in 3rd, 4th, and even the 6th grade classroom. Her first assignment was at St. John Lutheran School in Rogers City, Michigan. She was there only one year when she joined her new husband, Gene, at Trinity Lutheran, Worden, Illinois. From Worden, Jan and Gene moved to Holy Cross Collinsville in 1976 through 1982. In 1982, Jan and Gene and family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Jan taught at Elm Grove Lutheran. Then in 1991, Jan and Gene moved to Bronxville, New York and Jan joined the teaching staff at the Chapel School adjacent to Concordia College Bronxville. From New York, Jan and Gene moved to Texas where Jan served as a teacher at Prince of Peace in Carrollton and then Holy Cross in Dallas until they returned to Wisconsin in 2003. Jan remained at Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Wauwatosa until she retired in 2007.
Jan was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a mentor to many new teachers, guided numerous student teachers, and is fondly remembered by her students.
Funeral was February 18, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Missouri. Interment was Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri.
Memorials may be made in Jan’s name to Lutheran Women's Missionary League or any Lutheran school of donor’s choice.