Janet Ann Schmitz (née George) of Indianola, Iowa, passed away on August 25, 2017 at Mercy West Lakes Hospital in West Des Moines, due to complications following surgery. She was 85, and resided at Wesley Village, where she enjoyed playing piano for vespers and for residents in The Willows.

Janet was born on December 15, 1931 in Des Moines, Iowa to her parents, Harold R. George and Henrietta George (née Johnston). She graduated from Simpson College with a degree in Music in 1953 and later earned a Master's in Education. She married Thomas A. Schmitz in 1961. Janet taught elementary school, grades three to six, in the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts of Johnson County, Kansas, from 1969 until her retirement and dedicated her remaining time to private tutoring in music and volunteering for local humanitarian organizations. She served as house mother at Pi Beta Phi in 2010-2011.

Janet was a patient and supportive teacher with a passion for music. She sang in several civic and church choruses and taught piano lessons to young students. She was active with the Village's library and landscaping committees. Inspiring creativity and dedication in others was her life-long goal.

Janet is survived by her son, Eric T. Schmitz of Bloomington, Indiana; her brother, W. Weston George, and his wife Linda of Stuart, Florida; their Son Steven of Ventura, California; and daughter Kelly of Encinitas, California, and their four children, Brian, James, Georgia, and Camryn.

A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m., in the Heritage Room at Wesley Village in Indianola. All are welcome to attend and celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Heart to Heart International (Olathe, KS), the National Ghost Ranch Foundation (Abiquiu, NM), Habitat for Humanity, or the Good Shepherd Fund of Wesley Village.