Janice M. Thatcher, 84 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2013 in the Bluffton Regional Medical Center located in Bluffton, Indiana following a brief illness. Janice was born on Thursday, July 18, 1929 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana the daughter of the late Orval Whitaker and the late Esta (Brittsan) Whitaker. She married the late Graydon M. Thatcher on April 16, 1949 and he preceded her in death on June 13, 1987. Janice was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Preble. While in Florida, she wintered in the Bradenton, Florida area and greatly enjoyed her fellowship at Hope Lutheran Church. Janice retired in the late 1970's from National Seal (now Federal Mogul) in Van Wert and following her retirement also worked at Keltsch Pharmacy in Decatur. In addition to loving her family, Janice was HUGE Ohio State and NASCAR fan and sports nut. She enjoyed watching any televised sports with her family. True to her love of sports she also would watch her family participate in sporting activities as they grew up. Surviving are her daughter, Diana (Michael) Hoffman of Decatur, IN; daughter, Rhonda (Jeff) Smelser of Decatur, IN; son, Terry (Lynn Newnam) Thatcher of Ft. Wayne, IN; brother, Carl (Lola) Whitaker of Ohio City, OH; 3 grandchildren: Sarah (Jamie) Tharp, Nicholas (Rebecca) Hoffman, and Jessica Thatcher; 8 great-grandchildren: Makayla Friedt, Sydney Tharp, August Tharp, Isabelle Friedt, Isaac Friedt, Kaydence Elsea, Brysen Thatcher, and Emelia Hoffman. Preceding Janice in death were 2 children: Tommy Thatcher & Bruce Thatcher; 2 sisters: Mary Teeple & Thelma Whitaker. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2013 in the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Preble with Rev. Daniel J. Brege officiating. Interment will follow in the Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, OH. Friends will be received from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, December 9, 2013 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, IN and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church. Preferred memorials are to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Preble; and Family LifeCare (Hospice).
