Jan Marie (Waite) Waite-Schuster

Jan M. Waite-Schuster 70, Clintonville

Jan started her journey in the next life on May 26th, leaving behind the earthly body that could no longer contain her spirit.  In life Jan was the embodiment of the irresistible force and the immovable object all rolled into one.  She was born on January 14, 1955 to awesome hard working parents who demonstrated their love and dedication to their children on a daily basis.  She graduated from Clintonville High School in 1973 where she was a 2-time letter winner in gymnastics.  She went on to receive an Associate Degree in Medical Transcription from WCTC in Green Bay.

Jan incurred the injury to her spine in the summer of 1976.  It proved to be a temporary setback as she tackled her recovery like the athlete she was and was living independently again in Oshkosh by 1981.   Jan met her future husband Pete at a Halloween party in 1981.  In the spring of 1982 she moved to the Madison area where Pete was working.  Jan and Pete were married on the only sunny day that popped out for a solid month, on October 20, 1984 with their reception at Murphy’s Atop Nob Hill.

Jan was an incredibly fast typist and it served her well as she started her Madison career.  She first worked as a technical typist at Tracor Northern in Middleton.  In the mid 80’s she started working at the UW Madison Space Science and Engineering Center as an Administrative Assistant.  Starting in the early 1990s she became a 20-year fixture working at the UW Medical School at University hospital as an Administrative Supervisor.  She arrived each morning at 7am, rolled across the atrium for a cup of her favorite latte, up the elevator to her work space, first in Orthopedics (17 yrs) and then Anesthesiology (4yrs).  She relished her work environment and those who worked for her found her “lead by example” style of management created a refreshing work environment.  Jan retired from her job in 2011 to relax with her animals and plant her gardens at the farm house in the Town of Oregon that she and Pete spent 25+ years renovating.  In 2018 her lifelong dream to move back to her hometown of Clintonville was fulfilled as Pete and Jan made the bittersweet decision to sell their place in Oregon.  The decision turned out to be a great one as being close to her family really made it worth it in the years that followed.

Jan is survived by her husband Peter Schuster and their rescue dog Zinnia, her mother Joyce Waite (Madden), brother Richard (Rick) Waite (Marsha), brother James (Rock) Waite (Kathy), sister Barbara (Barb) Barbiaux (Mike), brother Calvin (Cal) Waite, cousin Ann Latimer (Tom).
Jan was preceded in death by her father Calvin Waite, 5 dogs (Boris, Lacy, Thunder, Delilah & Frank) and 6 kitties (Tasha, Eli, Kahlua, Buzz, Mitten & Headley).
Special thanks to Jan’s care and hospice teams; especially Jessie King, Dawn, Danielle, Heather, Christy, Lana and Samantha.

In lieu of flowers donations in Jan’s name can be made to the Clintonville Area Food Pantry or the food pantry in your community.  Please support projects in your community that enhance access for the disabled.
Jan’s Motto: “Don’t Look Back and Ask: What If?  Look Forward and Ask: What’s Next?”

A celebration of life for Jan will be held on Saturday June 28, 2025 at the Eberhardt/Stevenson Funeral Home, 299 S. Main, Clintonville.  Visitation starts at 10:00 am with service at 12:00 noon.  Gathering will be at the Clintonville Riverside Golf Course, 100 Club House Rd from 2:00 to 8:00 pm.

An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.