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Obituary for Janice M. "Jan" Baer
Janice Marie Stadsvold was born February 22, 1952, in Carroll, Iowa to Anita Louise (Jensen) Stadsvold and Haakon Wade Stadsvold. She was the youngest surviving child of the couple, the others being Dorothy (Feisel) and Richard.
Janice grew and was raised on the family farm near Exira, Iowa, where she lived until the family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in 1967. She participated in school athletics, 4H, Band, and the First Christian Church in Exira.
When the family moved to Rapid City, Jan attended Rapid City High School, participating in Band, Medical Careers Club and other activities.
It was while attending high school that she met William (Bill) Baer who she eventually married. They met in the school’s band room.
She graduated cum laude from Rapid City Central High School and that fall began taking courses at the South Dakota School of Mines, where she attended for about two years. She really didn’t enjoy the French course she took.
On September 23, 1972, Jan and Bill were married at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City. Her Maid of Honor was Sharon Judd and his Best Man was Larry Baer.
The couple moved to Manhattan, Kansas where Bill was stationed at Fort Riley. Jan’s open, caring nature allowed her to make friends of many people in the time they lived there. Jan was an Avon Lady during this time. Her first child, Angela Marie, was born at Irwin Army Hospital on February 13, 1974.
When Bill left the Army in 1974, the couple moved to Vermillion, South Dakota where Bill was enrolled at the University of South Dakota. He worked as a dispatcher for the local police department and Jan made fast friends in that community as well as in their neighborhood. She convinced the landlord to let them have a large garden in the backyard and she loved tending to it.
On October 30, 1976, their son Andrew Wade was born at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. Jan had to remove salt from her diet as much as possible during that pregnancy and she wasn’t happy about that.
In August of 1977, the family moved to Flandreau, South Dakota where Bill served as a Deputy Sheriff and later as Sheriff. Jan loved the small community and made friends everywhere. She was a member of the Jayceettes and Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church. She was a leader of the Cub Scout Pack. Jan worked at the local hospital, then for the local veterinarian, Tom Jueschke. She cleaned houses and the local savings and loan. She was thrilled to educate their children in the heritage of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.
On March 26, 1981, the couple’s second son, Richard William, was born at the Flandreau Municipal Hospital. On August 18, 1983, their second daughter, Sarah Michelle, was born at the same hospital.
Sharing her love with their children was not enough for Jan. Their house became the place any of the kids’ friends could come at any time. There was always room at the table and in Jan’s heart. She became the second mother for a generation of children in Flandreau. Jan opened her heart and her doors to the single members of the law enforcement community in Flandreau also. Every holiday meal saw extra people at the table, all of them knowing they were in a loving environment.
In June of 1992, the family moved to the Denver area, living in Golden, then Lakewood. Jan continued to open her heart to the friends of the kids and a new group of young people could see the example of her love and acceptance.
Jan worked at the Table Mountain Animal Center for a number of years, expanding her circle of friends and teaching her children who worked with her a work ethic that remains with them to this day along with a respect for life.
When Jan left Table Mountain Animal Center, she began a new career in Accounts Payable, working in a number of communications companies, retiring in 2021 from NTT America. Being the person she was she formed strong friendships all along the way.
Jan was a member Saint Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Golden, Colorado. She was a lector and an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. She is loved and respected by all who knew her there.
The role she liked best in her life was that of Grandma to her grandsons. She was never happier than when they were with her and she was able to continue to pass on a love of family and of all people. Her legacy will continue in the fine young men they have become and continue to develop into.
Jan was preceded in death by her father and mother, Haakon and Louise Stadsvold, her brother Richard Stadsvold, her father-in-law Andy Baer and brother-in-law Mike Baer along with aunts and uncles.
Those left here to mourn her parting and celebrate her life include her husband Bill; her sister Dorothy and Dorothy’s husband Lyle Feisel; her mother in law Ruth Baer; her children and their families – Angela and RJ Almagro and their son Manny; Andrew (Drew) and Robyn Baer and their sons Haakon and Eddy; Richard and Katy Baer and their sons Jackson, Liam and George; and Sarah and Jon Steffen and their sons Gabriel and Frankie; by cousins across the country, in-laws and so many loving nieces and nephews. Additionally, there are all the friends of her children who have called her mom through the years.
Memorial contributions can be made in Jan's memory to: Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue. Can be made online or mailed to P.O. Box 9798, Denver, CO 80209.
Arrangements for a memorial service are pending. We anticipate having that celebration in June and will get the word out when it is decided.
We entrust Jan into God’s loving hands, knowing we will meet again
