Janis “Jan” Rezac

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Obituary

Janis “Jan” Rae Rezac, 86, of Mitchell, SD, left this world peacefully, surrounded by her family at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell, on Monday, March 9, 2026. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 12, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Jan was one of four children born to Jens and Jennie (Hawkey) Anderson in New Underwood, SD on November 16, 1939. She grew up in Hitchcock, SD, and graduated as Valedictorian from Hitchcock High School in 1957.  She attended Northwest College of Commerce in Huron, SD for stenographic finishing and later received her Associate Degree in Business from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, NE.

After high school, Jan worked for the Department of Education and later the Corps of Engineers in Pierre, SD, where she also met her future husband. Jan married Eugene (Gene) Rezac on December 10, 1960, at St Mary’s Church in Highmore, SD. They lived in Minot, ND; Hoven, SD; Sioux Falls, SD; and O’Neill, NE; before retiring to Mitchell, SD to be close to their daughter, Lynne, and granddaughters, Amber and Kelsey.

Jan served as Vice President of Rezac Drug Inc., dedicating countless hours working alongside her husband in their independent drugstore businesses—Rezac Rexall Drug in Hoven, SD, from 1961 to 1970, and later Rezac Discount Drug in O’Neill, NE, from 1972 to 2005. She also contributed her time as altar society president for St. Anthony’s Church in Hoven, SD and St. Patrick’s Church in O’Neill, NE. She was also a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell, SD.

Jan deeply cherished her granddaughters and took great joy in supporting their many activities, including dance recitals, sports, music, and other high school and college events. She especially loved taking them shopping and discovering special places to enjoy a meal together. Jan also enjoyed being co-pilot for her husband when they flew their Mooney airplane. In her leisure time, she loved playing bridge, reading, and traveling. She was also an avid follower of figure skating, Nebraska Cornhuskers football and volleyball, South Dakota State Jackrabbits basketball, Mitchell Kernels basketball, and Minnesota Twins baseball.

Jan will be remembered for her remarkable strength and determination she showed while facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. With unwavering courage and grace, she continued to fight the illness while surrounded by the love and support of her family. Until the very end, Jan continued to give amazing gifts of herself and her spirit of strength remained evident to all who knew and cared for her.

Jan is survived by her daughter, Lynne (Ken) Schmidt of Woonsocket, SD; her granddaughters; Amber (Joseph) Nelson of Rochester, MN and Kelsey (Jace) Buford of Tahlequah, OK; two great-grandsons; Garrison Nelson and Johnse Buford; two great-granddaughters; Gemma Nelson and Jentry Buford; three brothers: Jim Anderson of Oreana, IL, Ken (Joan) Anderson of Pierre, SD, and Kurt Anderson of Huron, SD; as well as several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gene Rezac; her parents, Jens and Jennie Anderson; her parents-in-law, John and Leta Rezac; and extended family members Dale and Zig Rezac, Phyllis and Harold Parlin, and Marianna Anderson.

The family has chosen a memorial to be given in Jan’s honor for Alzheimer’s Research (Fisher Center).

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