Janice Mary (Mense) Zerr, 81 years old, of Grainfield, KS passed away peacefully in her home on March 11, 2020. Janice was born at her childhood home outside Grinnell, KS on July 17, 1938. She attended Angelus Grade School and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1956.
Janice was united in marriage to Edmund E. Zerr on November 10, 1959; they were married 60 years. She was a dedicated homemaker, farmwife, loving mother to four and granny to twelve. She enjoyed collecting, crafting, reading, puzzling, ancestry mapping and photography. If she was not running food out to the field, you could find her enjoying some R&R in the cabin at the lake. She was also an active member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church & Altar Society. Throughout her life she was also involved with the ‘Red Hat Club’, Card Club and volunteering wherever her friends or family needed her.
Janice is survived by her husband, Eddie; children Mary L. Williams of Wallace, KS, Debora Chapin (Kirk) of Hays, KS, and Richard “Rick” Zerr of Grainfield; grandchildren Brynn Peter (Trent) of Basehor, KS, Brodie Poe (Eric) of Sharon Springs, KS, Brock Williams of Golden, CO, Tyler Chapin (Mary) of Hays, and Tanner Chapin of Grainfield; great-grandchildren Taelynn, Bristyn & Bankston Peter, Dally, Ketch, Tye & Keiper Poe, and expecting baby Chapin; brother Rodney Mense (Frankie) of Grinnell; sister Joan Weinhardt of Grinnell; brother-in-law Len Zerr (Maxine) of Quinter, KS; sister-in-law Marie Kriley of New Braunfels, TX, and several nieces and nephews.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Louise (Ostmeyer) Mense; son Stephen G. Zerr; in-law’s Clem and Mary Zerr; brothers-in-law Sonny Weinhardt and Ron Kriley; sisters-in-law Agnes Burgardt, and Clemie (Huburt) Dreiling.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday March 16, 2020 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Grainfield with Fr. James Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Grainfield Cemetery, Grainfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Agnes Catholic Church and KU Cancer Research. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main St. Quinter, KS 67752.
Condolences may be left for the family by visiting schmittfuneral.com