Janice Mendel

Memorial Services for Janice Mendel will be held at 11 am on Saturday, Feb. 8th at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. Visitation and viewing will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, Feb. 7th at the Walter's Funeral Home in Freeman.

Link to stream the service: https://www.youtube.com/live/pGsN5F_-CzQ

Janice (Preheim) Mendel was born to Jacob Jr. and Linda (Schrag) Preheim on August 7, 1931 in Rural Marion, SD. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Oakview Terrace in Freeman, South Dakota She was 93 years of age at the time of her death. 

Janice grew up on a farm Southeast of Freeman and was baptized in 1947 at the Salem Mennonite Church. She went to a one-room schoolhouse for 8 years. She graduated from Freeman Academy in 1949, attended Freeman Junior College for one year then graduated with an RN degree from Bethel Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing at Newton, KS in 1953. After graduation Janice worked at Freeman Community Hospital for ten years before working at Rural Medical Clinic for 45 years.

On November 21, 1954, Janice was united in marriage to James Mendel at the Salem Mennonite Church. They farmed west of Freeman for 14 years and 7 years in Turner County. Two daughters, Jan and Jodie were born to this union. They became members of Bethany Mennonite Church in 1963 where Janice taught Sunday School, was an active member of Women in Mission and helped at the Food Pantry. They moved to town in 1981.

Janice was a devoted wife and mother as well as being very dedicated to her work, whatever the task at hand.

Together Jim and Janice enjoyed gardening and canning, playing cards with friends, bowling and camping. They enjoyed attending children and grandchildren’s school activities. Jim and Janice toured the U.S., east to west, Canada and Alaska riding a motorcycle. Janice also enjoyed decorating for each holiday, baking, quilting, attending sporting events, volunteering in the community, working on puzzles, and playing table games. But what she enjoyed the most was when her great-grandchildren would come to visit.

Her memory is cherished by her daughters Jan (Lee) Hendrix of Sioux Falls, SD and Jodie Hendrix of Freeman, SD, two grandchildren, Colter (Laura) Hendrix of Parker, SD, and Oakley Hendrix (Jason Christensen) of Lyons, SD, four great-grandchildren, Harrison, Theodore, and Everett Hendrix and Amelia Christensen; Janice’s sister, Julaine Goering of Moundridge, KS and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim in 2005, her parents, her infant sister Gloria Preheim, all of her brothers in-law and sisters-in-law, and her nephew, Tom Mendel.