Janice Marie Kretschmar

Janice Kretschmar was born September 16, 1939 in Mendoza, Texas and passed away March 28, 2021 at age 81, at her home in Georgetown. Her parents were Richard Dressen and Leona Feuerbacher Dressen of Evelyn, Texas. Both are deceased. She is survived by her two children, her son Kenneth Dwayne Kretschmar of Austin, and her daughter Linda Sue Angelosante of Blairsville, Georgia, one brother, Richard Alan Dressen of Buda, three grandchildren, Trey Croce Angelosante of Austin, Anissa Marie Angelosante, of Michigan, and Kayla Renee Angelosante of Washington D.C., and three greatgrandchildren, Augie Wycoff and Byrdie Wycoff of Michigan, and Dasein Langley of Washington D. C. She also leaves behind her ten cousins who she grew up with and became close to throughout her life. They include, Lois Maschmeyer of Austin, Alice Woodruff of Dallas, Kaye Wycoff of Spring Branch, Carla Elswick of Alabama, Hap Feuerbacher of Burnet, Judy Feuerbacher Wilke of Elgin, William (Billy) Mareth of Round Rock, and Tom Mareth of Kerrville from the Feuerbacher family, and Evelyn Pickwell of Kyle, and Pete Dressen of Arizona of the Dressen family. Four other cousins, 12 uncles and 11 aunts preceded her in death. Janice also leaves behind 7 nieces and nephews.

Janice married Jesse Kretschmar in 1956. Together they celebrated the birth of Kenneth in 1958 and Linda in 1960.

Janice attended the rural schools of Mendoza and Maha. She went on to graduate from Travis High in Austin in 1957.

Janice was detail oriented and possessed a natural gift for bookkeeping. Her career began as a bookkeeper for the Elroy Cotton Gin. She developed an admirable reputation amongst the farmers for her meticulous decision making and attentiveness to detail. She later advanced her career to become head bookkeeper at the Swertner Livestock Auction on Hwy 71 in southeast Austin. The farmers and cowboys throughout the community grew in their recognition of Janice’s essential contributions. A few years later she went on to work for Ace Drug Mart in Austin as head bookkeeper and Office Manager before becoming head bookkeeper at a business in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Later in life, Janice began investing in real estate by building and leasing multiple duplexes before selling and reinvesting in stocks and bonds. With her keen sense of finance and detail, she began excitedly exploring the world of stock trade. She became known for her jubilant participation, always making conversation, “How did stock market do today?”, with any passerby who might share the interest.

Janice was also an avid craftsman. She was an expert seamstress making most of the clothes worn by her grandchildren until adolescence. She was also an expert with Cross-stich. More recently, she began to pursue beading: designing and creating hundreds of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Janice made the most of life by exploring the luxuries and adventures across all parts of the world. She would spend up to 6 months at a time exploring the many joys and making new friends in each place. In Mexico, she visited the pyramids, went ziplining through the rainforest, and lounged on the beaches of both the east and west coast. With her own travel bus, Janice traveled across the United States and Canada. She then made it up to Alaska, but sought the assistance of a cruise ship for the endeavor. She later crossed the pond and traveled throughout Europe and the Scandinavian countries. She loved to deep sea fish and always got seasick, but she did it any ways.

Janice loved to dance, the color purple, but most importantly she loved to be around friends. Janice could make long-term, meaningful relationships wherever she went. When she moved to Georgetown, she joined groups to play card games, domino games, Foot in Mouth, and Mahjong. She cherished all of her friendships and genuinely valued the good times they shared.

She was close with her aunts, uncles, cousins, her own children, and her grandchildren. She could out talk everyone when it came to talking about grandkids. She played an active role in their lives from childhood, until she was promoted to great grandma.

Janice came from humble beginnings. Through her hard work and passion for life, she took herself down a path of success professionally and personally. She helped her children when they needed it and had a lot of pride in her children, grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. She was a good friend to many. All in all, Janice was a talented, curious and caring woman. She will be missed by all of us, and we will all have wonderful memories of her.

She is currently under the care of Cook-Walden Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on April 5, 2021, from 12 noon until 1:45pm at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park located at 6300 West William Cannon Drive in Austin. Phone: 512 892-1172. Gravesite Funeral Service will begin at 2:00pm at this same location. Help to keep Janice’s spirit of love and faith alive by volunteering your service to others and being a listening ear to those in need.