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Visitation:
4 p.m. to 7 p.., Tuesday, June 21st at
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Service:
10 a.m., Wednesday, June 22nd at the funeral home
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Loved by her family and friends as this caring,
gracious, friendly lady with the beautiful smile,
Janet Zollars, a young 98 years of age, passed away
Tuesday, June 14, 2016, with her daughter and
grandson by her side.
Janet Cooper was born January 26, 1918 in Lincoln,
to parents R. Lee Cooper and Hazel Read Cooper at
St. Clara's Hospital. At the time of her birth she
weighed just 2 lbs. and sadly was given little hope
to survive. Blessed Catholic Sister Ambrosia of
Lincoln's St. Clara's Hospital asked the doctor if
she could take Janet and care for her. Sister
Ambrosia saved her life by feeding her raw egg
whites and in 4 months a healthy baby Janet went
home to join her parents. Two years later, Janet was
crowned the "Most Beautiful Baby" at the Grand
Theatre in Lincoln, and, yes, displayed that
beautiful warm smile she had to this day.
Janet attended schools in Lincoln, graduated from
Lincoln Community High School and married the love
of her life Donald Zollars. High school sweethearts
they were. Both families were well known and farmed
their land for many generations. They married and
started their young lives together, happily
welcoming a daughter, Sonjo Donette Zollars. From
high school days to the end of Donald's life, 61
years later, they shared their love of dancing and
were a joy to watch on the dance floor. They danced
to the "Big Band Sound". At that time the original
big bands from Glenn Miller to Guy Lombardo,
traveled to the towns and cities, especially the
Chicago Aragon Ballroom and Janet Donald were there.
They were first on the dance floor until the very
last song was played. During their life in Pensacola
they belonged to the various dance clubs and enjoyed
many evenings with friends dancing the night away.
In her early married life Janet clerked at
Landauer's Clothing Store, and later was manager of
the children's department at J.C. Penney's, all in
Lincoln. When the large Stetson China Company moved
to Lincoln she worked at painting designs on the
exquisite Stetson China pieces, now being collected
by antique dealers. In the late 1950's they decided
to leave Lincoln, and moved to Davenport, Iowa,
where they co-owned a Culligan Soft Water Service.
The cold weather caused health problems for her
husband and in a few years they moved to Pensacola,
Florida, where Donald was Purchasing Agent for
Chemstrand, and then Monsanto. His work took him all
over the Southeast and wherever they were located
for a short time, Janet had that knack of making
their "new home" beautiful and comfortable. Later
they returned to Pensacola and lived until both
their deaths. Upon return to Pensacola, Janet
clerked a short time at the chic "Bon Marche' Ladies
Dress Shop in downtown Pensacola. However, in 1974,
their lives changed somewhat as Janet's mother and
Donald's parents moved to Pensacola to be near
family and they became caregivers for their parents
until their deaths. Once again, Janet's loving care
and responsibility prevailed and she and Donald made
their aging parents feel loved, happy and wanted. |
Janet's devotion was caring for her family and
homemaking. Her home was always filled with love,
warmth, and laughter. Her wonderful northern cooking
was enjoyed by many. In return for sharing her
wonderful northern recipes with friends, such as her
Read family's secret recipe for Preacher Cream Pie
and the best fried chicken ever, she was cooking
delicious southern seafood dishes. It was fun to
visit as Pinochle was usually the game of the
evening and music filled the air. Her family
believes Sister Ambrosia blessed Janet with her
positive love of life one felt around her and happy
attitude. When asked what her secret was to looking
so young at her age and being so active, she would
say "I had a wonderful husband, a happy marriage and
family and I always kept busy", followed by
"remember to smile as frowns cause wrinkles". In
January of 2016, at the age of 98, she renewed her
Driver's License proudly and drove her car home with
her daughter as passenger. The Pensacola DMV office
gave her a standing ovation.
Janet is survived by her daughter and "best buddy,"
Sonjo Donette Cronson. Her only grandson, Scott
Leigh, was the shining star in her heart. She shared
a special bond with Scott who is a Captain for
United Airlines, she'd say proudly "he's my
Captain". She is the last of her generation in the
Cooper family in Lincoln. Many later generation
cousins of the Read and Cooper families still reside
in Illinois. She also leaves two nephews, Prof.
David Stampe of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Prof. Dennis
Stampe, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin.
During the short time of Janet's illness, her family
wants to thank dear friends Jlynn Baudean and
Dorothy Reynolds for their unconditional help and
care. Thanks to Karen Walters and friends at D'Orr's
Beauty Salon and to the Emerald Coast Hospice staff
for their care. The beautiful prayer shawl from
neighbors and cards sent from family and friends
made her last days happy. Janet was a member of the
First Christian Church and a faithful believer in
her Lord and prayer.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday,
June 17, 2016 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel in
Pensacola, FL. An additional visitation will be held
from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader
Funeral Home in Lincoln, with final burial rest at
the Lincoln New Union Cemetery next to her beloved
husband.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of Janet
Zollars
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