Janice E. Kerger

Janice Eileen Kerger (Phelps) passed away peacefully on July 30, 2015 in the presence of her loved ones at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Born & raised in Mount Vernon, Ohio where she graduated from high school, she then went on to study nursing at the Ohio State University. She was married to Richard Kerger from 1968-1988 and had two sons, Shawn and Michael. Jan was a surgical nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee for many years before retiring and working as an elementary school secretary in the Perrysburg school system – both jobs she loved. It was upon returning from one of her surgical middle-of-the-night calls that she saved the lives of two young boys in her neighborhood from a house fire by running into their burning home and guiding the two boys out to safety. She was also a medical missionary, travelling to Haiti several times in the late 70s and early 80s to assist in providing free surgical care to the needy there. Jan enjoyed many hobbies: making stained glass artworks, reading, swimming, crocheting, singing, playing the bells, fine cooking, basket weaving, needlepoint, gardening, solving puzzles, and caring for her many pets. She was also a die-hard fan of Brett Favre and the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Jan was a resident of Perrysburg for many years and more recently was a long-term tenant in the assisted living at Lutheran Village Wolf Creek; where she was active in making ceramics, judging pies, helping set up for various events, solving puzzles, and giving everyone the warm, infectious smile that was her signature trait. Jan was preceded in death by her mother (Havilah Phelps) and father (Edward Phelps), her sister (Judy Demaree) and brother-in-law (Charles Demaree), her former brother-in-law and friend (Robert Deavers), and her youngest son (Mike), and is survived by her sister (Jeanne Ball) & brother-in-law (David Ball), her former sister-in-law and friend (Mary Deavers), her son (Shawn) and his wife (Amy) with their two children (Kellan and Christian), and several nieces and nephews. She will be missed by her dear friends of many years, Tom & Margie Iserman. Friends will be received in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, 222 E.S. Boundary St. Perrysburg, OH. (419-874-3133) on Monday, August 3, 2015 from 2:00 P.M.-6:30 PM with funeral services starting at 6:30 PM. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Lutheran Village of Wolf Creek, 2001 Perrysburg Holland Rd. Holland, OH. 43528 or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 E. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH. 43551. Online condolences may be left at www.witzlershank.com