Janet Lee Schrader, age 99, a resident of West Chicago, IL, died July 3, 2012, at Wynscape Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wheaton, Illinois.


Janet Lee Gauss was born on July 18, 1912 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the first of two daughters born to Joseph Henry and Olive Montgomery Gauss. Janet was raised in St. Louis and its surrounding area. Her father founded the Brooks Bible Institute in St. Louis which is where the family lived for several of Janet's growing up years. The family also lived in Kirkwood and Clayton, both suburbs of St. Louis. Upon completion of high school, Janet took kindergarten teacher training and taught kindergarten in the Clayton public schools for a number of years.

Her family was active in Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis and that was where she met John Milton Schrader whom she married in June of 1941. Their first home was in Oak Park, IL. Not long after they were married, Milton went into the army which brought them back to St. Louis. Janet followed Milton and the army to Greensboro, North Carolina, Salt Lake City, Utah, and back to St. Louis. After the war, Milton and Janet returned to Oak Park. Milton was employed by Moody Bible Institute and Janet took care of her parents who lived with them in their home in Oak Park. Janet once again used her teaching skills and taught preschool at the playground facilities in Oak Park.

The family was also active in the River Forest Bible Chapel. Milton and Janet moved to Westfield, New Jersey so Milton could represent Moody Bible Institute on the East Coast. They were very involved in the Woodside Bible Chapel in Fanwood, New Jersey. Janet expanded her enjoyment of the little ones by working in a children's clothing store. Upon Milton's retirement in 1976 they moved back "home" to Kirkwood, Missouri. Milton and Janet jumped into life at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church where Milton was on the staff as visiting pastor and Janet taught 4-year-old Sunday School.

With Milton's health failing, Milton and Janet made their final move in February of 2000 when they came to live with daughter Martha in Wheaton. They became involved at Bethany Chapel. Milton passed away in August of 2000 and Janet chose to stay in Wheaton as she had made that her home. Janet spent many years volunteering at Repeat Boutique.

Janet's life has been spent faithfully encouraging others with cards, letters and notes. She has been an adopted mother to many. She was a constant support to Milton and a prayer warrior for family and friends. She cannot remember a time that she didn't know the Lord as her Savior and he has walked with her throughout all her almost 36,500 days!

She is survived by two daughters Ellen Montgomery Schrader and Martha Walker Huitsing; four grandchildren Jason John (Jennifer) Huitsing, Jeffrey Lee (Jill) Huitsing, Jessie Lee (Aaron) Bloss, and Johanna Walker (Grant) Hendrikse. and eight great-grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Huitsing, Jacob Henri Huitsing, Andrew Jeffrey Huitsing, Jensen Jeanne Huitsing, Caden Zachary Bloss, Kate Elizabeth Huitsing, Addison Riley Bloss and Janie Grace Huitsing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Olive Montgomery and Joseph Henry Gauss, and seven brothers and sisters: Esther, Henry, Paul and Frank Gauss, Annie Kean, Olive Haw and Jo Garven.

A memorial service will be held July 21, 2012 at 11:00 am at Bethany Chapel, 404 N. President St., Wheaton, IL 60187. Memorial gifts may be directed to Brooks Bible Institute 3465 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63118.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.