Jane Clara Fussner, age 72, passed peacefully amongst family on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at her home in St. Peters. She was born August 30, 1951, to parents, Kenneth and Clara (Nee: Fischer) Bedel, of Oldenburg, IN.
Growing up, Jane lived with her parents and 5 siblings on Harvey Branch Road in Oldenburg. She grew up on a dairy farm and often recalled fond memories of attending square dances, listening to her dad’s band and spending time with her Great-Uncle Stanley or Aunt Della. She graduated high school in 1969 from the Immaculate Conception Academy. Shortly after, she moved to Indianapolis for work. While home at a dance, she met, fell in love, then married Robert “Bob” Fussner on April 24, 1971, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, IN.
Jane and Bob lived in St. Peters during their 53 years of marriage. They raised their five children on the family farm and worked together raising livestock and grain, tending to the garden, and supporting the farm operations. They enjoyed time together outside at Lake Santee or Indian Lakes resort. In the late 1990’s, Jane started working outside of the home in childcare; one of them being the Batesville YMCA Child Care Center. Combined, she cared for children for over 25 years.
Jane was a faith filled and loving wife, mother, sister, grandma, and great grandma. She was an extended mother to many of the children she cared for at the daycare centers, who often lovingly referred to her as ‘Miss Jane’. To her grandchildren she was met with enthusiasm as “Grandma!”, and always had a supply of homemade Rice Krispie Treats along with long hugs, smiles and laughter. Jane was very active on the farm maintaining a beautiful vegetable and flower garden, as well as mowing, or taking grandkids on ATV rides. She loved road trips and traveling to visit family, vacations and looking for farm equipment with Dad. At night she enjoyed gazing at the stars with Doug as a young boy, working on puzzles with her daughters, watching late-night comedy classics with Bob or just sitting down with company and a good cup of coffee for a friendly visit.
In the community, she was active in church as a Eucharistic Minister and at the annual Labor Day Picnic she could be found in the kitchen. She was always excited to get baskets ready for the basket raffle and then sit with pen and paper to write down all the winners when the raffle was held. She would also provide homemade chili for the Ladies Sodality fundraiser along with a variety of other dishes for church functions.
In the last 5 years, she has bravely battled her scoliosis and cancer diagnosis with her family by her side. She found her strength in the good Lord and prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Bob daily.
She is survived by her husband Bob, son Doug (Ivana) Fussner, daughters Debbie Miller (Bill) Pugh of St. Leon, Cindy Fussner of St. Peters, and Beth (Phillip) Weingart of Carmel, son-in-law Ian Teal of Red River Gorge, KY, brother Lawrence (Theresa) Bedel of Oldenburg, sisters Joan Nobbe and Lois (Carl) Bohman both of St. Peters, and sister-in-law Millie Bedel of Metamora. Grandchildren Raymond, Brittany, Junior, Dylan, Sadie, Clara, Brendan, Ingrid, Gretchen, Robert, Peter, Jackson, Isaac, Cecilia, Noah, Luke, Seth, Kara and 17 great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter Sandra Teal, sister Diane Bedel, brother Raymond Bedel, and brother-in-law, Harold Nobbe.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 11th, from 4 – 7 p.m. with the rosary beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. A Mass of Christian Burial is at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 12th, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in St. Peters, Indiana, with Fr. Vincent Lampert officiating. The burial will follow at the St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Church Cemetery Fund or the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. For online condolences go to www.weigelfh.com.