Janice Schroen Nagel's Obituary
Janice Schroen Nagel, "Jan", loving wife, mother, mom-mom, daughter and sister, passed away peacefully at her home on Nagel Road with her family by her side, at the age of 82. After a brief, but courageous and determined battle with cancer, on Sunday, April 12, 2026, Jan went home to be with her precious Lord and Savior as she entered into Heaven's gates. Throughout this fight, Jan remained a trooper by every measure to the very end, always surrounded by the love and support of her family. Jan was very passionate about her faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ and was always quick to proclaim how faithful God was and how she continually leaned on Him throughout her life.
Jan was born to Robert and Esther Schroen in Washington, Illinois and was the ninth child in a family of eleven children. She loved her numerous siblings very deeply and felt very blessed to have grown up in such a large family where her brothers and sisters were her playmates, closest friends and confidants. Jan graduated from Roanoke-Benson High School where she had many cherished friends and fond memories as a Roanoke Rocket. She later attended Asbury College (now known as Asbury University) in Wilmore, Kentucky, where her older brother, Dave Schroen, introduced her to his roommate, David Nagel. It wasn't long before "Nagel", which was the affectionate and only name Jan ever called David, became the love of her life. During their time at Asbury College, the number "143" became their way of communicating "I love you". David could often be seen across campus flashing "143" whenever he saw Jan. For more than 60 years, every note David wrote Jan was always signed "143". David and Jan were married on September 18, 1964, beginning a beautiful life together that lasted for more than 62 years in marriage. In 1969, they started their family and proceeded to grow their family to two boys and two girls - Chip (Melanie), JoRhea Nagel Wright (Chris), Tara Nagel Bryson (Stephen) and Chad (Stephanie). Later, they were blessed with fourteen grandchildren, seven boys and seven girls - Brooks, Ally, Tate (Alexis), Carter (Lauren), Lucy (Jackson), Rex, Kendall, Chloe, John Mark, Caroline, Tess, Clay, Brooklyn and Bo. Jan's family was her greatest joy, and she was the steady, loving presence around which everything orbited.
David and Jan's love story was made even more special through their close family connections, when Jan's brother, Dave Schroen, later married David's sister, Julie. The two couples shared a lifetime of deep friendship and comradery, raising their families together side by side, and enjoying over sixty years of travel, fellowship and family bonding. Together, their seven children, who were double first cousins, became running buddies and best of friends.
Jan began her working career as a third-grade teacher at Federalsburg Elementary School, where she taught school for five years. After stepping away from teaching to raise her children, she later built a long and meaningful career alongside David as co-owner of Nagel Farm Service, Inc. She worked in the grain elevator business for over 40 years, continuing until her retirement at 81 years of age, with quiet determination, a willing spirit, and a commitment to always seeing things through and making sure each and every grain ticket was processed in a timely manner . She was a staple at Nagel Farm Service over her long career and adored by the employees, farmers and customers, alike because of her warm and winning personality.
Jan's faith in Jesus Christ was truly the foundation of her life. Jan was a deeply devoted Christian whose greatest desire was for others to know and love Jesus and experience a personal relationship with Him. She loved her Bible Study Fellowship group ("BSF") and the time she spent studying God's Word. For over 60 years, she was a faithful member of Harmony United Methodist Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and in various other roles. For many decades, she was an MYF youth group leader with David and Tommy Schiff and together they ministered to countless middle schoolers and high schoolers, while having plenty of good times, fun and laughter on their annual MYF ski trips to Shawnee.
Jan possessed an ageless beauty and vitality which never seemed to change as she grew older. Her beautiful light green eyes were the windows to her soul. However, her inner beauty and kindness were even more striking than her outward appearance. Her personality was one that made people feel comfortable and at ease instantly. She was funny, cute, warm, and genuinely kind, with a ready smile and a way of making everyone feel welcome. Jan never had an enemy and everyone she ever met truly enjoyed being around her because she was so likeable and had such a positive attitude. She was dependable in every respect and was a steady rock for David and their children. Jan was someone who never disappointed, never let you down, and was always willing to help. Jan's strength, her solidness, her easy way of loving people unconditionally, her ability to remain calm in and out of storms, her way of never overreacting, her ability to be an exceptionally good listener with sage advice when solicited, and her laid back demeanor, made her a magnet to all types of people, old and young alike.
Jan loved her time at the beach, sunbathing by the pool, playing games, eating out and traveling with David and spending time with her kids and grandchildren. She truly treasured time with her family and especially the time spent playing, caring for and visiting with her fourteen grandchildren.
Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Esther Schroen, and her siblings Ann, Bob, Dave, Pepper, and Margaret Susan and her brothers-in-law, Craig Lytle and Dick Dunn. She is survived by her beloved husband, David Nagel, her four children, their spouses and her fourteen grandchildren and spouses. She is also survived by her siblings and their spouses Mary Jane, Dan (Brenda), Catherine, Esther (Charlie), and Sally (Tony), and her sisters-in-law, Ellen and Julie, all of whom she loved dearly. She leaves behind her extended Nagel family, including David's brothers, Alan (Tina) and C.B. (Susan), and his sisters, Eileen Heistand (Dave Heistand) and Julie. She is also survived by many dear Schroen and Nagel nieces and nephews.
Jan will always be remembered for the way her presence lit up a room, her unwavering faith, and the way her life reflected Jesus in both words and deeds. Her legacy of love, faith, and family will continue on through all who knew her.
A visitation to gather and share memories with Jan's family will be held on Friday, April 24th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Framptom Funeral Home in Easton, located at 30 N. Harrison Street, Easton, Maryland, followed by a funeral service on Saturday, April 25th at the Easton Church of God, located at 1009 N. Washington Street, Easton, Maryland with a one-hour visitation beginning at 12 noon followed by her funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, 101 Bloomingdale Ave., Federalsburg, MD 21632. Donations in memory of Jan can be made to CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Dr. David Jeremiah's broadcast ministry, Turning Point for God.
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