Janis Rae "Jan" Rezac

Janis "Jan" Rae Rezac, 86, of Mitchell, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at Firesteel Healthcare Center, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on November 16, 1939, in New Underwood, South Dakota, to Jens and Jennie (Hawkey) Anderson, Jan was one of four children. She grew up in Hitchcock, South Dakota, and graduated as valedictorian from Hitchcock High School in 1957. She later completed stenographic training at Northwest College of Commerce in Huron and earned an Associate Degree in Business from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.

After high school, Jan worked for the Department of Education and the Corps of Engineers in Pierre, where she met her husband, Eugene (Gene) Rezac. They married on December 10, 1960, at St. Mary's Church in Highmore. The couple lived in Minot, North Dakota; Hoven, South Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and O'Neill, Nebraska, before retiring to Mitchell to be near their daughter and granddaughters.

Jan served as Vice President of Rezac Drug Inc., working alongside Gene in their independent pharmacies—Rezac Rexall Drug in Hoven from 1961 to 1970 and Rezac Discount Drug in O'Neill from 1972 to 2005. She was active in her faith communities, serving as altar society president at St. Anthony's Church in Hoven and St. Patrick's Church in O'Neill, and was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. She cherished her granddaughters, Amber and Kelsey, supporting their activities in dance, sports, music, and academics, and creating special memories through shopping trips and shared meals. An enthusiastic co-pilot, she enjoyed flying with Gene in their Mooney airplane. In her free time, she loved playing bridge, reading, traveling, and following figure skating as well as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Mitchell Kernels, and Minnesota Twins.

Jan faced the challenges of Alzheimer's disease with remarkable strength, courage, and grace, continuing to offer her love and presence to those around her until the end. She is survived by her daughter, Lynne (Ken) Schmidt of Woonsocket, South Dakota; granddaughters Amber (Joseph) Nelson of Rochester, Minnesota, and Kelsey (Jace) Buford of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; great-grandsons Garrison Nelson and Johnse Buford; great-granddaughters Gemma Nelson and Jentry Buford; and her brothers Jim Anderson of Oreana, Illinois, Ken (Joan) Anderson of Pierre, South Dakota, and Kurt Anderson of Huron, South Dakota, along with several nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Rezac; her parents, Jens and Jennie Anderson; her parents-in-law, John and Leta Rezac; and other dear family members.