Janet Elaine Schwalbe

Janet Elaine (Hanna) Schwalbe, 90, of Anoka, Minnesota, died on December 19, 2023, just shy of Christmas, in the home of her daughter and surrounded by children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and love.

Janet was born on January 6, 1933, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Glenn Alden Hanna and Viola Vivian (Vee) (Youmans) Hanna. Born on Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas, she had a life-long adoration for all things red and sparkly, for snowy winter days and for the Christmas season. Her beautifully decorated Christmas tree always stayed up well after Christmas had passed and often persisted well into her birthday month.

Janet’s storied life was punctuated by many moves to numerous different states and cities (estimated to be over 39 moves in her lifetime.) When she wasn’t moving cities, she was moving into a different home. Curating well-loved furniture and hand-me-downs to fit into rental properties and turning a hodge-podge of objects into designer-styled spaces filled with a warm glow and sentiment was her specialty and her devotion. She seemingly never tired of beautifying a new space, hanging pictures, or putting up a bookcase, brick by brick. She seemingly never tired.

Her passion for art and creativity extended to her life-long career as a teacher. A graduate of her beloved Valley City State Teachers College, her occupation, much like the rest of her life, was more of a calling. She was a master at not only adapting to new and challenging situations but thriving in new environments. She began her profession teaching high school English in Tioga, ND and retired as a First Grade teacher in Strandquist, MN. Along the way, she taught art, music, kindergarten, theater, and nearly every grade level. She was well-known as the teacher with the most amazing displays of children’s artwork and for being a responsive teacher who created lesson plans that catered to a specific class or child’s interests long before it was methodized. 

In her vocational years, as busy as she was, and often single-parenting, she also made sure to make time to teach her own children in many disciplines including piano, vocal music, violin, and countless other forms of artistic expression. Her love of the arts is evidenced in every child and grandchild. Her deep knowledge of song lyrics, her outspoken and direct approach, her work ethic, and her can-do attitude were not reserved or limited to family. If you knew Janet, however briefly, you can be sure that at some point she would have shared her unfettered opinion on something with you. If she thought she could improve your looks, your grammar, your ability to read the key signature, or your potential, she would not refrain from sharing.

Janet Elaine Hanna was preceded in death by her father, Glenn Alden Hanna, her mother, Viola Vivian (Youmans) Hanna, younger brother George Warren Hanna II, younger brother Gary Alden Hanna, younger sister Sharon Kathleen Howe, sister-in-law Agnes Scott (Miller) Hanna, niece Shaina Leigh (Neurauter) Odermann, and granddaughter Catherine Quintal. 

She is survived by: brother, James Bradley Hanna, sister-in law Betty Hanna, sister-in-law, Linda Hanna, son, Clark Cameron Quintal (Julie), daughter, Elissa Nanette Quintal, son, Juddson Hanna Quintal, daughter Deirdre DeMers Chatfield (Dake), Susan Rebecca Quintal-Loza (Jesse), Robin Lowell Schwalbe (Cyndi), Melanie Ann Simpson (Todd), Bret David Schwalbe (Nicole), Tisa Janell Zachau (Brian), and Keira Desirée Moore (Nathaniel), grandchildren Corey Patrick Quintal, Alaina Catherine Quintal, Marsden Dake Chatfield, Avery Mae Chatfield, Devyn Shea Schwalbe, Jordan Simpson, Cole Simpson, Alexandra Schwalbe, Jack Schwalbe, Luke Schwalbe, Marissa Adrianna Pons, Miranda Loza, Elijah Lee Moore, Ryelin Alexander Moore, Zarek Alden Moore, Maksim James Eisenhower Zachau, Tiian Bijoux Priscilla Zachau, Aidric Grey Alden Zachau, Eile Glenn Ciclon Zachau, great-granddaughter, Jada Terry and so many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Service may be viewed here: https://boxcast.tv/view/janet-schwalbe-service-rksi1ghp832ywmavxozu