Janet Edith Schoenbauer Retka

Janet Edith Schoenbauer Retka, 84, of St. Thomas, MN died peacefully Saturday, May 12, 2018. Jan suffered from Alzheimer 's disease and lived the last 4 years of her life at Traditions in Montgomery. Jan's Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, May 16, 11 AM at St. Thomas Catholic Church with Father Roger Hessian presiding. The visitation is at Schoenbauer Funeral Home, 200 3rd St SE, Montgomery on Tuesday from 4 � 8 PM and one hour before the funeral Mass at St. Thomas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association or St. Croix Hospice.

Jan was born September 16, 1933 on the family farm to Frank and Mary (Malecha) Schoenbauer. Jan attended St. Wenceslaus grade school and graduated from New Prague High School in 1951. Jan loved working at Remes' Drug Store in New Prague. She took pride in being able to converse in Czech for the pharmacist.

Jan married Orrin Retka on August 31, 1957 at St. Wenceslaus. They farmed and raised a family of 8 children in St. Thomas. Jan had very strong faith and was always ready to serve others, whether it was cleaning the church, washing the altar linens, serving in the kitchen at funerals and fundraisers or leading the rosary at the nursing home. She was a wonderful example of love and service to others. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and spending time with family. Her greatest gift was her faith, her love, and her kolackies.

Jan was proud of her Czech heritage and loved every opportunity to speak the Czech language. One of her lifelong dreams came true when she visited the Czech Republic. What a wonder it was to see her speaking the language she loved in her family's homeland. Jan lost her mother when she was only 4 years old. She looked forward to their reunion in heaven.

Jan is survived by her husband Orrin, of 60 years, her children Maggi (Mike) Morse, Carol (Dale) Schneider, Luke (Alice) Retka, Therese (Dave) Russell, Rose (Brian) Norvet, Henry Retka, Peter (Jean) Retka and Sarah (Tim) Rothstein, 19 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, her brother Frank (Doreen) Schoenbauer, and sisters Ann (Lawrence) Koenig and Delia Leahy, many in-laws, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary and four brothers Ray, Alfred, Eugene and Edmund. Dokud se znovu nestarame.

Arrangements are with the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. 507-357-6116. www.schoenbauerfunteralhome.com.