She attended elementary school at District 44, a one-room school house, then graduated from Wahoo Public High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from UNL, then worked at David Place in David City for 2 years before moving to Omaha where she worked at Bergan Mercy Hospital. She saved up enough money to quit work and go to school full time for her MSW at UNO. After graduating she married Jerry Tooker and they lived in Beatrice. She worked at Tabitha Home and then Tabitha Hospice before the birth of their first child, John. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home Mom for several years, and began working part time at Trinity United Methodist when their youngest, Shane, was 3. While there she became certified in Christian Education within the United Methodist Church. After 11 years at Trinity she began working for the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association, where she filled 2 roles: Executive Assistant, and Coordinator of a grant funded palliative care program serving clients who experience pain as a barrier to employment. After 4 years in this position, the grant funding ended, and Jan then began working at 2 different part-time jobs: Hospice and Home Health Care of Saunders County, and The Physician Network in Lincoln. She had earned certification as a Mental Health Practitioner so was then a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Upon retirement in April 2020 (at the beginning of the Covid pandemic) she and Jerry had purchased a new RV with the intent to travel the country. Because of Covid they did not travel as much as they had hoped.
In April of 2021 Jan was diagnosed with leukemia (AML) and after treatment and a stem cell transplant went into remission, but had further health issues due to pulmonary embolisms. In December 2025 it was determined that a tumor found in her stomach was a relapse with leukemia in which she began treatment immediately.
Jan was always interested in crafting and textiles as creative outlets. After taking a weaving class in 2005, she fell in love with this craft. She has been a member of the Hand Weavers Guild of Lincoln since that time, and has helped with teaching numerous classes, as well as serving in various leadership positions. She tells students that weaving is something that promotes a lifetime of learning, because there are always new techniques to be mastered. She has appreciated the many friendships that have developed over the looms at the HWGL studio.
Jan’s family was always the most important thing to her, whether her “growing up” family or her children and grandchildren. Spending time with them was so rewarding to her, and thoughts of them is what got her through times of health struggles. She looked forward to taking the grandchildren on RV trips as a way to keep a positive goal in front of her during difficult times.
Survived by husband Jerry, Lincoln; children John (Nicole), Lincoln, Emily (Sarah), Thornton, CO, Shane (Abbie), Lincoln; grandchildren Jess, Margaret, Amelia, Liam, and Meredith, all of Lincoln, Grace, Thornton; Siblings Anne (Wes) Ballard, Lyle (Susan) Schoen, Nancy Schoen (Martin Costello), and Mary Schoen (Paul) Petersen, all of Lincoln; nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members.
Preceded in death by parents, Ken and Ruth Anne (Barry) Schoen.
A Celebration of Life service at 1:00 p.m. on July 13, 2026 at First Plymouth Church, 2000 ‘D’ Street in Lincoln.
Memorials are suggested to Hand Weavers Guild of Lincoln, 3843 S. 48th Street, Suite 1, Lincoln, NE ;68506, or Camp Fontanelle, 9677 County Rd 3, Fontanelle, NE 68044.
Jan wants everyone to bring any kind of weaving she has made to the memorial service. Lay them across the backs of pews where you sit, or hold them to bring you comfort.