Janet Dorothy (Schwab) Chobar

   Janet Dorothy (Schwab) Chobar, 78, died Tuesday, October 26, 2021.  A memorial service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, November 13, 2021 at First United Methodist Church, 1915 Nebraska Street.  Visitation will be Friday, November 12, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. all held at the church.  In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Music Department of First United Methodist Church, 1915 Nebraska Street, Sioux City, IA  51104.  Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.  Online condolences may be directed to meyerbroschapels.com.

   In lieu of a traditional obituary, we are sharing part of Janet’s story.

   Janet’s life began when a blizzard was raging when her Mom, Dorothy, was in labor. Her father, William Schwab, flagged down a snowplow to get his wife to the hospital. The power went out, so hospital staff were not sure if she was born November 30, or December 1, 1942 – They decided it was December 1st.

   Janet was the first child born to William and Dorothy Schwab, to be followed by Linda, Joyce, Susan, and Bill.  At Janet’s birth, the Schwab family lived in Libertyville, Illinois, moved to Des Plaines, Illinois, and then their beautiful “Tulip Lawn Farm” in Mokena, Illinois.  After Janet’s mother passed, her father married Irene (Hermes) Kadow who brought three children to the family: Jean, Roger, and Janice. 

   Janet attended Illinois State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biology and Library Science.  She met David Chobar on a blind date, which her sister Janice arranged. They were engaged Christmas eve, 1963 and married after Janet’s graduation on June 11, 1966. They had three daughters: Heather, Stephanie, and Heidi. As a family there were many road-trips during which Janet shared her love of history. She spent Saturday nights snuggled up on the couch with her family, watching Little House on the Prairie, eating waffles and ice-cream.

   Janet was extremely gifted in sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting, and being a loving mother. She made her own wedding dress, as well as her daughters. She was actively involved in church, vacation bible school, recruited many people to teach Sunday school classes and was an excellent cook who loved to garden, and can/freeze fruits and vegetables.  Her flowers were amazing, and she had no greater joy than being in nature, planting an annual garden and pruning her roses and blue-ribbon Irises. She also loved challenging jigsaw puzzles, playing Solitaire, and giggling when she won a game of Chinese Checkers.

   Janet is survived by her husband, David Chobar of Sioux City, IA; two daughters, Heather Chobar (Jeremiah) of Georgetown, ME and Heidi (Kevin) True of Woodinville, WA; five siblings, Janice (Gary) Sullivan of Springfield, IL, Roger (Pam) Kadow of Marshall, IL, Linda (Vyto) Bendoraitis of Toledo, OH, Joyce (Craig) Cameron of Oklahoma City, OK and Bill (Toni) Schwab of Denver, CO; five grandchildren, Christopher (Jessica) Chobar of Watertown, MA, Kelsey Adamson of Madison, ME, and Kyle, Corey and Brady True of Woodinville, WA; and many loved nieces and nephews.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Dorothy; daughter, Stephanie; stepmother, Irene; and two sisters, Jean and Susan.

   She will be fondly remembered and missed terribly by all who knew her. Our world will not be the same without her.