Jane Florence Smook

JANE FLORENCE SMOOK was born on March 13, 1930 to Walter and Evelyn (Bleichner) Zimmerman in Chaska, Minnesota. She received her baptism and confirmation at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaska. She was raised on a farm near Excelsior, Minnesota and graduated from Chaska High School in 1948. She then attended and graduated from Mankato State Teacher’s College in Mankato, Minnesota. She began her teaching career in Mayer, Minnesota in 1951. After one year she went to Minnetonka, Minnesota and later to Chaska where she continued teaching until 1968. On February 10, 1968 Jane was united in marriage to Melvin Smook at Belgrade Avenue Methodist Church in Mankato, Minnesota. The couple moved to Luverne spring of 1968. Jane was a substitute teacher at Luverne Elementary School until she was offered a full time teaching position in 1970. She worked as an elementary teacher to second, third and fourth graders. Jane thoroughly enjoyed teaching. She loved the infectious laughter of children, their great curiosity, and helping them learn, grow, and achieve. She particularly loved observing how much kids changed and watching their growth and maturity begin to form at such an early age. Simply stated, kids were just a lot of fun. Jane retired in 1990. She and Mel enjoyed golfing and traveling to many destinations. She especially enjoyed their trips to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Mel preceded her in death on December 28, 2011. Jane continued to reside in their home in Luverne. On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Jane died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 8 days.

Jane was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne and belonged to Priscilla Elizabeth Circle and GLCW. She and Mel also counted the church offering for many years. Jane served as a volunteer at the Sanford Hospital Gift Store and belonged to PEO. She enjoyed reading, playing bridge, golfing, outings with friends, and simply getting together with her family, especially her grandchildren and sisters.

Jane will be lovingly remembered by her two children, Bradley Smook of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Margaret and her husband Thomas Knowles of Belleville, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Ben Smook, Josh Smook, Andy Smook, Nick Smook, Matthew Smook, David Smook, Tom Knowles II and Brian Knowles; four great-grandchildren, Julia Gigliodoro, Abby Smook, Carter Smook, and Carly Knowles; and her three sisters, Emily and her husband Jim Reisgraf of Portage, Michigan, Sandy and her husband Chuck O’Day of Brainerd, Minnesota and Carol Sumpter of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mel; and parents, Walter and Evelyn.