Janice Lynn (Ulrich) Schrader

Janice Lynn (Ulrich) Schrader
October 10, 1952 - October 21, 2024

Janice Lynn Schrader, the daughter of Robert and Elsie Mae (Ross) Ulrich, was born in Greenville, Kentucky. She was the first of five Ulrich children. Jan was baptized in April of 1956 in Kansas City, Kansas, and then confirmed in May of 1966 at St. Peter’s in Edina, Minnesota. After attending Lutheran elementary schools, she completed her secondary years at Minneapolis Lutheran High School, graduating in June of 1970.

Jan dreamed of teaching even as a small child. She would set up her dolls in class and teach them how to do well and be kind. She also had a love of music and developed her gifts with piano lessons.

Jan enrolled in Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska in 1970. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education and majored in organ. On a significant day in her first year while attending a retreat, she met Steve Schrader. It was love-at-first-sight. Jan and Steve were engaged not long after and married June 2, 1973. Their love for each other continued to grow through the fifty plus years of their life together.

After college, Jan taught for twenty-five years at Lutheran schools around the country. She served as the organist and choir director at multiple congregations. She was cherished in her communities by students, their parents, and her peers. Jan’s faith inspired her work as an educator, Bible study leader, and musician.

Jan was the loving and beloved mother of Aaron, Sarah, and John. She was the beloved grandmother of twelve grandchildren and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.

Jan’s journey was not an easy one. She faced cancer three times, but her deep faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the support of her loved ones enabled her to continue her ministry of love and kindness to others. Among the people who knew her, the mere mention of her name kindles only warm and affectionate thoughts. This was well and eloquently written by a member of her current fellowship in the message on a beautiful get-well card received earlier this month, handwritten on an otherwise wordless page: “I love you.”

Such is the legacy she left to all who knew Jan as wife, mother, sister, aunt, relative, teacher, and friend.