Janet A. (Ziebell) Uschkrat

Janet Ann Uschkrat passed into heaven and her long-awaited reunion with her beloved husband Lowell Merle Uschkrat, as well as her parents Herbert and Hazel Ziebell. 

Jan grew up in Hubbard, Iowa to a farm family, born in the farmhouse (parts of which date to pre-Civil War) that she lived in for nearly 60 years.   Jan was baptized and later confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hubbard.  She and her sister Darlene went to Hubbard High School where Jan met the love of her life Lowell when she was just 17.  Lowell was the son of a Chicago and Northwestern Depot agent family who had been stationed in Hubbard,  Bill and Helen Uschkrat.  

Jan and Lowell married in June 1951, promising Herb and Hazel not to have children right away since Jan was just 17.   Son James came along June 1952 born in nearby Eldora, Iowa where the delivering doctor expressed concern to Jan about her being very young to be able to care for a baby! 

Julie came along three and half years later in February 1956, both raised on the family farm and house that Herb and Hazel vacated to move to town.   Jan and Lowell farmed in partnership with Herb for many years until Herb’s death in 1976.   Lowell was also a public schoolteacher and athletic coach for 41 years prior to his retirement in 1990.    They were both lifelong members of Zion United Church of Christ in Hubbard, active in church leadership and youth events, nurturing the Christian faith of their two children.    

Jan and Lowell in the early years of their marriage loved to dance on weekends at the various small town ballrooms in Iowa where Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey would sometimes tour.  Jan also discovered an interest in art, particularly water, charcoal and oil paintings that gained some local renown, with her artwork gracing their church and later the homes of their children, grandchildren and friends.  

Later her artistic interest expanded towards ceramics and plaster figurine paintings, and she opened a shop at the farm called The Yellow Daisy.   When Jan and Lowell remodeled the farmhouse in 1975, they added a basement that became Grandma Jan’s shop where her five grandkids loved to set around the work tables and craft their own masterpieces to nice music and much laughter.

Jan worked full time as a secretary to an architectural firm in Nevada, Iowa when Lowell went back to Iowa State University to complete his four year teaching degree, and later was secretary at the high school library in Hubbard.   Both employers loved having her upbeat and gracious presence in their workplace, and begged her to stay when she decided to return to her homemaker and artistic interest! 

Jan and Lowell left the Iowa farm in 1994 to move to Bella Vista Arkansas and build their dream house, complete with TWO art shops....one for painting and the other for ceramics.    Bella Vista offered a new start for them both, in a much milder climate around several old family friends who had relocated from Iowa as well as some cherished new friends. 

Sadly, Lowell passed away in December 1996 leaving Jan a widow at age 62 after 45 years of marriage.  Lowell was such a ‘take-charge’ personality, that Jan had to learn many new skills in finance and home management.   Jan stepped up though and lived independently alone in her large Arkansas home for almost 20 years, with a wide circle of new and old friends.  Jan was active with her Bella Vista Community Church, numerous art and book clubs and weekly dining out with her ‘gang’ over a tall margarita (her favorite drink, so fitting that she passed on National Margarita Day!).       

In early 2015, Jan sold her beloved home in Arkansas to move to Cape May Retirement Village in Wilmington, Ohio to be near her daughter and her family.    She cherished her wonderful apartment with her spectacular bay-window view of the lake and colonial architecture in  Cape May.   Jan so enjoyed having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit whom she loved dearly.   Jan suffered numerous serious health issues over her last years that she faced courageously, though she would not shrink from letting anyone know if she was not happy with something!             

Jan is survived by her older sister Darlene Eddy, of Huntsville Texas,  Darlene’s daughter Mary Jo Carnes, and Darlene’s granddaughters Jessie Mathis and Billie Trujillo.

Jim is an Account Manager for ABB in Houston Texas and his wife Karen live in Sugar Land, Texas and have two daughters.  Betsy is married to Tyler Smith and lives in Slidell, Louisiana and Susan who lives in Houston. 

Julie retired from public school teaching after twenty years, and with her husband Tom have three children.    Son Tim and Kari Terrell of Leesburg, Ohio who have five children, Kasen, Tessa, Kaylee, Tysen and Kenzi.  Daughter Katie Terrell-Ubry and husband Randy work at an orphanage in Baja California, Mexico.   Son Matthew and Jennifer Terrell of Corpus Christi, Texas and their daughter Riley. 

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