Janice Schmidt Obituary

Janice Schmidt, 87, of Baxter, Iowa passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at MercyOne in Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Fredregill Funeral & Cremation Care, 107 North Main St., in Baxter from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Immediately following visitation, her funeral service will begin at 4:00 p.m. Burial in Restland Cemetery will take place at a later date. Born as Janice Pearl Shore, on June 5, 1938, in Knoxville, IA, to Leon and Maude (Neff) Shore she grew up in Newton. A creative and talented spirit, Janice had a knack for creating joy and warmth in her world. She graduated from Newton High School in 1956. Janice married the love of her life, Larry Schmidt, on June, 9, 1957 at the Congregational Church in Baxter. The couple lived in Baxter where she spent her years raising her family, and was a beloved member of the local community. She was a dedicated cook at Colonial Manor and Kidville before her retirement, and her generosity was widely felt. Janice's pies were legendary, with 49 unique flavors that she often donated for community events. Her contributions to the Baxter Congregational Church, the Baxter Congregational Church Women's Fellowship Group, Red Hats, and the Baxter Booster Club, among others, left a lasting legacy. Janice was a loving and generous soul who cherished every moment spent with her family. Her home in Baxter was often filled with laughter, delicious smells from the kitchen, and the sounds of her grandchildren playing. Janice often spent her early mornings with her core group of ladies, walking at the Baxter Community School, followed sitting down for coffee to chat about life. She was a talented and creative woman who loved painting, drawing, sewing, baking, and crafting. These hobbies were more than pastimes for Janice; they were expressions of her love and care for those around her. Janice is survived by her sons, Gary Schmidt, Ed (Deanna) Schmidt, Brian (Julie) Schmidt, and Adam (Connie) Schmidt; her grandchildren Jason Kutzner, Jamie Schmidt, Marcus (Shelby) Schmidt, Sydney (Chase) Gratopp, Riley Schmidt, Yara, Joseph and River Schmidt; great-grandchildren Asher and Kai Schmidt and Derek and Karson Schmidt; brother Dean (Letitia) Shore; her daughter-in-law Sally Schmidt; many nieces and nephews; and her special friend Betty Fuchs. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maude Neff and Leon Shore, her husband Larry, her son Steven Schmidt, siblings Jay (Virginia) Shore and June (Lloyd) McKinny, nephews Jerry and Dean Jr., and niece Joy. Memorial contributions may be directed to Ed Schmidt. Janice's life was a testament to the beauty of love, the power of generosity, and the joy of creativity. We invite you to share your memories of Janice, and upload photos to the memorial page, as we remember and celebrate the life of this extraordinary woman.