Janet M. (Kaffenberg) Schuette, 89, of Lawrenceburg, IN, walked into the loving arms of the Lord on Easter morning, April 5, 2026 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Florence, Kentucky. Janet was born on January 25, 1937 in Greendale, Indiana to Robert and E. Mae (Dunn) Kaffenberg of Lawrenceburg. As flood refuges, fleeing Lawrenceburg with only the clothes on their backs, her parents were taken in by family friends on Sheldon Street, along with 5 other families. On the morning of January 25th, as the Ohio River was cresting, the ladies in the crowded house went out in search of a doctor to deliver Janet, while the men of the house were building rowboats at Seagram’s to help save residents and their belongings in the community. Janet’s bed was a laundry basket filled with dish towels and her only outfit was donated item from the Salvation Army.
At the age of 8, Janet became fascinated with pharmacy and decided that was her life calling. She focused on becoming a pharmacist and worked at area pharmacies earning money for college throughout her high school years. Jan graduated from Lawrenceburg Consolidate High School in 1955 and went to Purdue University on a 4-year academic scholarship, graduating as one of only 9 women in a class of 117 pharmacists. A trailblazer, she became the first woman pharmacist in Dearborn County. She worked at area pharmacies: Beyer’s, Ohler’s, Charlie Baker’s, and for Andy Hand’s Pharmacy either full-time or as a fill in when a pharmacist was needed. Jan was then hired as a Pharmacist for Dearborn County Hospital, where in her 19 years, went from the only part-time pharmacist at the hospital to Director of Pharmacy over a full-staff which became her extended family. She thrived on sharing her love of her profession and educating others. Over her many years, she was a preceptor for both Purdue University and Butler University Schools of Pharmacy, and was also Regional Coordinator for the Externship Program for the Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, helping to train many pharmacy students. While at Dearborn County Hospital, she developed a Pharmacology course and taught the hospital LPNs to help certify them in being able to distribute medications when this became a requirement. She was an encourager and derived a great sense of pride seeing those who she had helped advance in their careers. She also enjoyed helping and serving the public. She moved back into retail pharmacy and retired from Kroger Pharmacy after 12 years. She spent her final years working in the Lawrenceburg store, but had also floated throughout Southeastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky Kroger pharmacies. Jan served 2-terms as Vice President of the Indiana Society of Hosptial Pharmacists.
Jan and her family were members of Zion Evangical and Reformed Church on Walnut Street in Lawrenceburg while she was growing up. This religious upbringing instilled a very positive attitude and a deep faith in Christ. She firmly believed that there was no need to worry because, “With God, all things are possible.” This outlook made her an encourager of many. She called shut-ins and many young people came to her for advice. Jan was also very active in her church and community as well. She taught Sunday School and was a member of the LWML, the Ladies’ Funeral Committee, Vacation Bible School, and was an Orphan Grain Train Mission volunteer at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Farmers Retreat. She was also a girl scout leader and participated in many other of her children’s activities, was a lifetime member of the Purdue Alumni Association, Beta Sigma Phi sorority (where she was named ‘Girl of the Year’ in 2000), volunteered at The Baby Basket for many years, and was a member of the Old Lady Gamers.
Jan was a fun loving person who was known for her sense of humor. She never forgot a joke and could tell the most hilarious stories. On a trip to New York City, she was chosen to be interviewed by David Letterman on his morning show, and even had Dave doubled over in laughter with her quick wit and responses. She said that the only regret she had in life was that she had not been a stand up comedian.
If you knew Jan, you knew she bled Black and Gold for her Boilermakers. You also knew that you never called her or came to visit during a Purdue ballgame. Even at the age of 89, she could coach a ballgame like none other from her recliner! She was a sports fanatic, with a particular love of Big 10 conference sports and the NFL, rarely missing a Bengals game. She was very athletic in her youth. Before many women’s collegiate sports, she advanced to the Indiana semi-finals in what was then “intermural” tennis while at Purdue. She was a bowler, an avid swimmer, participated in water aerobics in her later years, and played such a wicked game of ping pong that she had to play left handed to give her opponents a chance.
Jan met the love of her life, Dale Schuette, on the Fourth of July. They always said they saw fireworks when they met. Jan and Dale were married soon after and had two children, Susan and Robert. They were married for 53 years, until Dale passed in 2020. They had a wonderful life together, taking long family “Griswold” vacations, camping, cruising, hiking, visiting nearly every state and multiple countries. Jan loved the countries’ national parks, particularly Yosemite, nature and wildlife in general, and playing cards. She and Dale enjoyed going to all of their granddaughter’s plays, concerts, recitals, and ballgames. Her family was her pride and joy.
Janet was proceeded in death by her husband, Dale; father, Robert and mother, E. Mae (Dunn) Kaffenberg; father-in-law Edwin and mother-in-law, Irma (Linkmeyer) Schuette; grandmother, Lennah Dunn; grandparents, John Kaffenberg and Alvina (Baer) Kaffenberg; aunt, Margaret (Kaffenberg) Franz and uncle, Alex Franz, brother-in-law, Leo Schuette, and nephews Bill Schuette and Buddy Wilson, as well as many aunts and uncles. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Schuette-Coriell (Pat Booth) of Manchester, and son Robert Schuette (Laura Filter Schuette) of Lawrenceburg; granddaughters Kayleigh Coriell-Hughes (Skyllar Coriell-Hughes) of Astoria, New York; Quinn Coriell (Dennis Bailey) of Columbus, Georgia; Meghan Schuette (Derrick Taylor) of Lawrenceburg; and Macie Schuette of Lawrenceburg. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Verna Schuette, Farmers Retreat; nieces Barbara Grace (Jerry), Cindy Schuette (Bill), Bonnie Schuette, and Linda Wilson as well as her great-nieces Bethany Ketchem (Dustin), Emily Wolf (Troy), Lacey Hensen (Adam), Krissy Walston (Richard), Kelly Markgraf (Chris), Laura Wilson, and their families, as well as many dear friends whom she loved. She will be very sadly missed.
Visitation will be held Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 11-2:00 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Farmers Retreat, with funeral services beginning at 2:00 p.m., and graveside services to follow. Donations may be given in Janet’s name to the St. John’s Cemetery Fund or to an organization of your choice.