Jane P Ganz

CAMBRIDGE - Jane Lea (nee Peterson) Ganz, 70, passed away after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease on October 7, 2024, at her home in Cambridge, Wis. Jane and her devoted husband, Doug, have lived on their spacious farmette in the Wisconsin dairy country that they purchased in 2015.

Jane was born on December 4, 1953, in Oak Park, Ill. She was named Jane in respect for two special women: her parents Beloit College family friend, Jane Morrison, and her grandmother's college roommate at the University of Kansas, Jane Waters. Her middle name, Lea, was an adaptation of her great-grandfather's first name, Leander.

Jane's family relocated to Sunnyvale, Calif., in 1963 because her father, Kenneth Harold Peterson, was transferred there by the Western Electric Company. When her father passed away unexpectedly in 1964, her mother, Maria Lodema Peterson, moved the family to Alsip, Ill.

Jane graduated from Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, Ill., in 1971 and from the University of Rochester in 1975, where she majored in music. She went on to get her master's degree in chemistry from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Upon her graduation from Cornell, she moved to Madison, Wis., to continue her education and to serve as a chemistry instructor at the University of Wisconsin. For 22 years she was choir director and organist at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. As the years passed, Jane developed a chemistry tutoring business that she operated online and from her home. She had many very grateful students whom she helped survive the rigors of organic chemistry. Her very special students were Alana Trotter, Marcus Trotter and her niece, Jessie Beyderman.

Jane loved animals and welcomed many to the farm she and Doug purchased when they were in their 60s. At various times they owned four female horses, Safari, Sparkle, Spunky and Surprise, plus two male horses, Primo and Dash. She published a book titled “Colic,” about her sad experience with a horse named, Ruler. Jane especially loved cats, and her hobby was rescuing them from local shelters. At one time there were 13 cats living in the upstairs of their residence, plus two barn cats. Jane had their living, feeding, and petting arrangements all carefully scheduled. She was a great organizer. Jane and Doug eventually added three dogs to the household, Liberty, Justice, and Dusty.

Jane is survived by her husband of 28 years, Douglas Ervin Ganz, whom she married in Madison, Wis., on November 29, 1996. She is survived by her stepson, Nickolas Ganz (Lauren) and step-grandsons, Rigby Ganz and Bennett Ganz and step-granddaughter, Georgiana Ganz all of Sun Prairie, Wis.; and stepson, Michael Ganz (Lindsey) and step-grandsons, Bryce Ganz and Marshall Ganz of Pardeeville, Wis.

Jane is also survived by her three brothers, Lawrence Kenneth Peterson (Kathleen) of Evergreen, Colo., Harold Vaughan Peterson (Geraldine) of San Jose, Calif., and John Vernon Peterson of McMinnville, Ore; and her sister, Polly Peterson Kotarba (Joseph) of Woodcreek, Texas. Jane was a loving godmother to her nephew, Andrew Walter Kotarba, of Los Angeles, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Maria Peterson.

A funeral service will be held at ST. PAUL’S LIBERTY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3494 Oak Park Road, Deerfield, at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Rainbow Hospice, Visiting Angels or Country View Equine Clinic in Oregon, would be appreciated by the family.

Jane's family wants to extend their sincere thanks for the compassionate hospice care provided by Rainbow Hospice and are grateful for the home care services provided by the Visiting Angels of Madison.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420