Jane Kathleen Wahl, 81 of Gothenburg, left this earthly life on Aug. 25, 2026, at Gothenburg. She was born in the Lexington Hospital to parents, Daniel and Louise (nee Uebele) Wahl of Eustis. She joined her sister, DeeAnn; and a year later her brother, Jon, was born.
Jane graduated from Eustis High School in 1963; earned a Bachelor of Arts in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Kearney State College (University of Nebraska - Kearney) in 1967; and completed a Master of Arts degree in the same discipline from Colorado State College (University of Northern Colorado) in 1968. Then de-stressed by doing spring field work on the family farm, driving a tractor day after day.
In the fall of 1968, Jane began her teaching and coaching career at Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois. She was ‘in her element’ being involved in bringing increased sports/athletic participation and opportunities for girls (and some boys) in the school. Then in 1974, she continued that endeavor at the collegiate level, when she became the first Women’s Sports Coordinator/Women’s Athletic Director at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She held that position through the Title IV years and the transition into the combined Men’s/Women’s Athletic Department. In the spring of 1979, Jane resigned and finished her Doctorate of Education at CU-Boulder in August of 1981.
It was early in the years in Boulder when Jane realized that she needed to fully commit to a relationship with Jesus Christ as her Savior. She was greatly blessed by fellow believers there.
In 1982, she was hired as Associate Professor of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Women’s Athletic Director, and Head Softball Coach at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. After two years, Jane resigned that challenging position to move back to her family and roots in Eustis. It was in the difficult spring of 1984 when she finally relinquished lordship of her life to Jesus Christ. In 1986, the position of head housekeeper at the C Lazy U Guest Ranch in Granby, Colorado was offered to her, and for five years she fulfilled the requirements that kept the ranch as a 5-Star/5-Diamond- ranked resort facility. In 1991, she moved back to Eustis and worked with her mom re-painting the interior of her parents’ home - and, unknowingly and gratefully, lived in close proximity to her dad in the final months of his life.
Following a year of helping her mom transition to a widow’s life, she moved back to Grand County, Colorado and began working as a pastor’s secretary at Winter Park Christian Church. During that time, she also oversaw the care of her Aunt Frieda, her mother’s sister, in Denver, who was suffering from dementia. That employment lasted from 1992 until 2000, when Jane began caring for her mentally-challenged mother in her Colorado home. In 2001, realizing her mom was more cognizant when in her home surroundings in Eustis, they prepared to move back to her mom’s home. A fall, resulting in her mom breaking her upper leg and having surgery in Denver to repair it, changed those plans; her recuperation was in a nursing home near DeeAnn, while Jane completed the move to Eustis. Another fall a month later broke her other femur, which necessitated full-time nursing home care. Jane supplemented that care for her mom and her Aunt Frieda 6-days a week until their passing in 2004.
Jane remained in Gothenburg and cared for clients under the Agency on Aging. She also lent a helping hand to any who asked and especially liked the challenge of assisting with computer projects. She enjoyed keeping in touch with dear friends she had made in the various locations she had lived and often traveled there to visit. Trips to Ecuador, France, Germany, and India were horizon-expanding; visits to Israel and Hawaii were yet to be made.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Jacob and Pauline (nee Zeeh) Wahl and Ernest and Louise (nee Gutekunst) Uebele; a pre-born sibling; and uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Survivors include her sister, DeeAnn (Oliver) Holbein of Cozad; brother, Jon Wahl of Eustis; two nieces and two nephews; five great-nieces, one great-nephew, two great-great nephews; and dear friends and other relatives.
A remembrance service was held on Monday, Aug. 31, at the First Baptist Church in Gothenburg. Her earthly body was laid to rest in the Eustis Cemetery, next to previously departed family members. Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel & Monuments of Gothenburg assisted the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Women’s Resource Center, 209 McNeel Lane, North Platte, Nebraska 69101.