Jane Oderkirk Thompson

01Apr
2019

perfective / 10 Comments /

Obituaries

Jane Oderkirk Thompson, 83, of West Lafayette, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her home, Saturday, March 30, 2019. Jane was born to the late Galen and Ida Anderson Oderkirk on May 17, 1935 in West Lafayette, IN. Jane’s first marriage was to Roy William Smeltz. On June 12, 1975 Jane married her childhood friend, Sid Thompson and they enjoyed their life together till he passed in 2003.

Jane was a kindergarten teacher for 48 years, starting in Detroit, MI and teaching mostly in the West Lafayette School’s. When Jane would run an errand she always ran into a friend or former student. She was an extremely dedicated alum and board member of the PI Beta Phi Sorority. Jane was a faithful member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette. She would volunteer at the Food Pantry at the church for years and was on the Alter Guild. Jane enjoyed singing cheery songs wherever she was. Jane was known as someone that always has a peaceful and uplifting energy about her that was able to light up any room she was in. She was an avid Purdue fan. She was a 1952 graduate of West Lafayette High School and received her undergrad from Purdue University.

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The family of Jane Thompson invite friends to visit Friday, April 5, 2019 at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 6^th Street and Ferry Street, Lafayette from 2:00 PM till time of funeral at 5:00 PM. Rev. Dr. Bradley Pace will officiate. Burial to follow at Grandview Cemetery, West Lafayette. Memorial donations may be made to the Midwest Dachshund Rescue, 2023 Ridgewood St, Highland, IN 46322 or the St John’s Episcopal Church. The Wheeler Family Funeral Home-Baker Chapel Flora, IN is honored to be serving the Thompson Family.

Condolences for the family 010

John and Trudi Hatter
April 2, 2019 6:42 am ·

Bobby and Shannon

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

John & Trudi
Shirley Raney
April 2, 2019 5:03 pm ·

Jane was like a sister to my mom. Her quick sense of humor, contagious smile, and positive energy will be missed by many! So sorry for your loss!!!
Louise Linder Steve Kirkman
April 2, 2019 6:04 pm ·

Everyone’s in shock of hearing we lost Jane. When she left WM.to go home we thought she was doing well and we would see her when she came back for rehab . Everyone loved her there and loved seeing her with her dogs.
I worked for Jane for 25 years at Pi Beta Phi and she was always good to me. Then I got to see her again at W M. Which I loved. She was funny and spunky and kept her humor even after her stroke. She still had relatives of students she taught come in to see her because she was such a good teacher and they loved her!
She worked very hard to make a good home for the girls at Pi Phi for a lot of years and still found time to work at the food bank. She will be missed by many.
Our condolences to her family. God bless Leona Jane her great granddaughter whom she never got to meet.
Mary Nelson
April 3, 2019 9:08 am ·

So very sorry for your loss. I have such fond memories of Jane and her parents. We lived next door to Galen and Ida for many years.
Jo Turner Thomas
April 3, 2019 3:57 pm ·

We were classmates at Purdue. She always had a smile on her face. Years later we reunited on a 50 year reunion committee and as members of the Art League. She was loved and respected and will be missed.
Richard Gustafson
April 3, 2019 11:08 pm ·

Mrs. Thompson was my kindergarten teacher at Burtsifled Elementary where I would have started in 1976 or 1977 (can’t recall.)

Despite how long ago it was, I have so many clear and fond memories of times spent in her classroom. I remember her playing the piano and singing songs with us almost every day. I remember the day that we all decided to have a birthday party for her and when one of my classmates asked how old she would be, she told us “18.” We made a birthday “crown” for her out of cardboard and colored it with crayons but our knowledge of numbers was not too solid at that point so instead of “18” the number shown prominently on the front of the crown turned out to be “81.” I remember Mrs. Thompson getting quite a kick out of that.

My senior year in high school at West Lafayette, a couple of friends of mine and I decided that we needed to do something really rebellious before graduation, so for the first time since I started school I actually intentionally cut class – I had a sheltered upbringing. The problem was, we didn’t really have a plan for what we would do. In the end, we decided that we would go visit Mrs. Thompson’s kindergarten class at Cumberland Elementary, and somehow she still remembered me even after all those years. It felt just as I had remembered being back in her classroom for that brief moment and it felt right somehow to thank her for starting off my education just before I would be leaving town for college.

It was such a pleasure to be able to reunite with her many years later in early 2012 and introduce her to my own children and they still remember her warmth from that one meeting. Souls like Mrs. Thompson have a lasting impact on children and despite all the teachers I have had since my time in her class, I remember more details about that time, and it brings me more joy to recall it, than almost any other time since.

It is with great sadness that I heard of your passing Mrs. Thompson – and I and I’m sure my classmates are forever grateful for our time with you. Your kindness and love for all was so readily felt and will be truly missed. Know that you will be remembered always, loved always by all of us.

Please rest in peace near Him and hope to meet you again in the future.

Love and endless thanks always,

Richard Gustafson
Yokohama, Japan
Annie Dooley
April 4, 2019 8:12 pm ·

The greatest kindergarten teacher on the planet has passed away. I have so many memories from Mrs. Thompson’s class, all pleasant. She had a teepee in her classroom, if it was your birthday you could lay in it for rest time. If you came in with wet socks after recess, she always had a dry pair…and if you’re a kindergartener with size five shoes, she’d even loan you her own.
Mrs Thompson was kind, patient, and loving, and truly made school the happiest place on earth. At the end of the year, she gave us all homemade frogs…mine still sits on a shelf in my room. I will never forget the impact she made on my life and the love for learning that she helped inspire in me that I hope to pass on to my students.
Annie
Mrs Thompson’s class 1999-2000
Cynthia, Kenny, Sharon and Carol Vincent
April 7, 2019 8:25 pm ·

Pam and Bobby, We have many fond memories of your mom! She was a really remarkable person, inspirational educator and wonderful neighbor. Sending you our blessings and sympathies at this difficult time.
JW
April 10, 2019 6:13 pm ·

My condolences to the family, may you find comfort in god and comfort in his promise of a resurrection.- John 5:28,29
Jody Turner
May 22, 2019 5:39 pm ·

I only learned about Janie’s death a few days ago when I was about to post a birthday message on Facebook. I just couldn’t believe it. She was such a joy to everyone–such a bundle of energy and smiles. She was one of my pledge sisters in Pi Phi and dearly loved by all of us. Not only did I have the benefit of her sisterhood, but ran across her a few years after college when we were both employed as teachers in Fort Wayne. We were both looking for roommates and got an apartment together. I was only there for a semester but we sure had fun together. Our paths crossed many times after that, though we saw each other less frequently in later years. We still contacted each other at times and it was always great to talk with her. I loved her very much and am so very sorry that she is no longer with us. My sympathy to all the family. She was truly a spark of friendship, happiness and helpfulness.