In Memory Of
Minerva Jane Sickman
1942
2023
Minerva Jane Sickman
September 4, 1942 — July 31, 2023
On July 31st, 2023, Minerva Jane (Duff) Sickman passed peacefully at her eldest daughter's home in Ohio.
She was born on her mother's birthday, September 4th, at the Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Indiana, to the late Frederick John and Gretchen Nell (Winans) Duff.
Jane had a brother, Larry Lee (Nancy) Duff and a sister, Mary Ann (David) Lindsey. Both of her siblings preceded her in death, Larry in January, 2021, and Mary Ann on April 25, 2023.
She married Lawrence Dale Sickman on September 17, 1966. They had two daughters, Dr. Linda Sue Sickman and Janet Elaine Shindler (Muncie, IN). Lawrence preceded Jane in death in November, 1986.
In addition to her children, she is survived by her two grandsons: Jared Nathan Shindler and Josiah Justin Shindler; and 5 nephews and nieces, as well as 10 great-nieces and nephews.
Jane worked after graduating from Elkhart College. She was a Medical Secretary for Dr. Lundt in Elkhart, IN, and Drs. Ganz and Bloom in Marion, IN. It was in Marion that she met the love of her life, Lawrence, being set up on a date while she was at work as Lawrence was at the same office having stitches removed.
After raising her daughters to school age, Jane returned to work in 1976, at Park Elementary School, Fairmount, IN, as a Title I Aide, helping children learn to read. She then worked at Park as a Special Education Secretary and finally as Secretary-Treasurer of Park Elementary for a total of close to 30 years.
After Lawrence's death in 1986, she continued to live in Fairmount until 2022, when she moved to live with her eldest daughter.
Jane was a Girl Scout Leader and 4-H Leader. She was active in the American Cancer Society, Grant County (IN) Extension Board, Grant County Fair Board, Grant County Adult Leaders, Purdue Council on Agriculture, Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET). She served as Secretary and President in many of those organizations. She served on Fairmount Town Council (2 plus terms) serving as Vice-President and President; Madison-Grant United School Board (2 terms) serving as Secretary and a member of two state committees. Additionally, she had been Secretary of the Grant County (IN) Democratic Women's Club.
As per Jane's final wishes, there will be no funeral, nor services.
To share a memory of Jane or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
"You can only have one mother,
patient, kind and true, no
other friend in all the world
will be the same to you. When
other friends forsake you, to
mother you will return, for all
her loving kindness, she asks
nothing in return. As we look
upon her picture, sweet
memories we recall, of a face
so full of sunshine, and a
smile for one and all. Sweet
Jesus take this message, to
our dear mother up above,
tell her how we miss her, and
give her all our love."
She was born on her mother's birthday, September 4th, at the Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Indiana, to the late Frederick John and Gretchen Nell (Winans) Duff.
Jane had a brother, Larry Lee (Nancy) Duff and a sister, Mary Ann (David) Lindsey. Both of her siblings preceded her in death, Larry in January, 2021, and Mary Ann on April 25, 2023.
She married Lawrence Dale Sickman on September 17, 1966. They had two daughters, Dr. Linda Sue Sickman and Janet Elaine Shindler (Muncie, IN). Lawrence preceded Jane in death in November, 1986.
In addition to her children, she is survived by her two grandsons: Jared Nathan Shindler and Josiah Justin Shindler; and 5 nephews and nieces, as well as 10 great-nieces and nephews.
Jane worked after graduating from Elkhart College. She was a Medical Secretary for Dr. Lundt in Elkhart, IN, and Drs. Ganz and Bloom in Marion, IN. It was in Marion that she met the love of her life, Lawrence, being set up on a date while she was at work as Lawrence was at the same office having stitches removed.
After raising her daughters to school age, Jane returned to work in 1976, at Park Elementary School, Fairmount, IN, as a Title I Aide, helping children learn to read. She then worked at Park as a Special Education Secretary and finally as Secretary-Treasurer of Park Elementary for a total of close to 30 years.
After Lawrence's death in 1986, she continued to live in Fairmount until 2022, when she moved to live with her eldest daughter.
Jane was a Girl Scout Leader and 4-H Leader. She was active in the American Cancer Society, Grant County (IN) Extension Board, Grant County Fair Board, Grant County Adult Leaders, Purdue Council on Agriculture, Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET). She served as Secretary and President in many of those organizations. She served on Fairmount Town Council (2 plus terms) serving as Vice-President and President; Madison-Grant United School Board (2 terms) serving as Secretary and a member of two state committees. Additionally, she had been Secretary of the Grant County (IN) Democratic Women's Club.
As per Jane's final wishes, there will be no funeral, nor services.
To share a memory of Jane or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
"You can only have one mother,
patient, kind and true, no
other friend in all the world
will be the same to you. When
other friends forsake you, to
mother you will return, for all
her loving kindness, she asks
nothing in return. As we look
upon her picture, sweet
memories we recall, of a face
so full of sunshine, and a
smile for one and all. Sweet
Jesus take this message, to
our dear mother up above,
tell her how we miss her, and
give her all our love."
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Minerva Jane Sickman, please visit our flower store.
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