Janet Schmock

Janet Schmock, age 94, beloved wife, precious mother, and devoted friend, passed away into her Heavenly Father’s loving arms on July 28, 2021. She was at peace in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Janet (nicknamed “Girlie” as a child) was born on Feb. 28, 1927, to her loving parents, Ellen and Erling Punswick, who emigrated from Norway in 1904. Janet was the second youngest of 10 children. She was born and raised on the family farm in the township of Vermont, Wis. The family lived through tough times with no running water or electricity in the early years. They all pitched in on the farm, planting tobacco and raising dairy cows. Despite their hardships, Janet had fond memories of her childhood and spoke warmly of her parents, brothers, and sisters.  She would reminisce about her sisters sewing her first dresses made from King Midas flour sacs and her first job holding the cows’ tail while her dad milked the cows. Girlie learned to cook and bake by watching her mother on the farm.  She walked “over hill and dale” to attend Steensrud Schoolhouse and told of the big scare she had being chased by a bull and having to climb a tree fast!  Sneaking into the schoolhouse with her girlfriends to get a chance to play the piano was a daring endeavor, but worth it! She was confirmed at Vermont Lutheran Church in 1939.

Janet graduated from Black Earth High School in 1944, where she was voted homecoming queen by her classmates. A fond memory for Janet was being invited to sing at the Mount Horeb Festival where she sat on a milk stool and sang her favorite song. Janet worked at Badger Ordnance as a secretary towards the end of the war. Her next big move was to Madison where she worked as a live-in maid for a lovely family of five in The Highlands, where she perfected her “world class” cooking skills.  She went on to work in numerous restaurants, including The Cottage Cafe, Justo’s, Lombardino’s, Crandall’s, The Simon House, Frenchy’s, and The Cuba Club. In 1947 she started waitressing at The Hoffman House, where she met the love of her life, Leonard. They were married in 1950 at Vermont Lutheran Church in Black Earth. In 1954 they opened Smoky’s Club on Old University Avenue.

In 1955 Smoky and Janet started a family, and the three children were literally raised in the restaurant business.  They always reminded us, “it takes energy, hard work, commitment, and attention to detail to succeed in this business,” and they always appreciated their loyal employees, saying, “We couldn’t have survived without wonderful, caring help,” with Janet adding, “and the Lord is SO good.” Smoky’s employees and customers became lifelong treasured friends. In 1987 after a tragic fire destroyed their home, Janet hung a sign outside of the burnt house that said, “In everything give thanks.”  Janet and Smoky’s hard work was recognized in numerous places, including Madison Magazine's Best Steakhouse awards, America’s Top Ten Steakhouse award published in American Airlines magazine, and the 1988 Midwest Living Magazine’s Best Steakhouse in the Midwest. In 2008 Janet was thrilled to receive the Restaurateur of the Year Award presented to her by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. In 2000, with all of her accumulated collectables, she opened a thrift shop named Jan’s Treasures on University Avenue, where she enjoyed selling cherished items and treating her customers to coffee and cookies. Leonard would say, “She’s the only one in Madison who buys at retail and sells at wholesale.”

In 2009, at age 82, Janet suffered a debilitating stroke and persevered through a tough rehab program. With her strong faith and Norwegian fortitude, she returned to her home, making delicious casseroles and homemade bread, with a pot of coffee brewing and pastries ready to share. Janet enjoyed sharing her Christian faith and talking about her relationship with Jesus; shopping (from thrift stores to Woldenberg’s); sharing her  Norwegian heritage; shopping, decorating; cherished visits with her beloved brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and dear friends; cooking homemade food for large gatherings; eating out; country church lutefisk dinners; and… shopping. With pitchfork in hand, standing on the roof of their Harvey street home, she would create her annual GRAND Christmas light display enjoyed by many! In 2002, on a trip with her daughter to volunteer at an orphanage in Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, Janet would light up like a Christmas tree when holding the precious little babies and greeting the beautiful children. Janet was a longtime member of Midvale Baptist Church.  As a part of their ministry, Janet was honored to visit nursing home residents weekly for 20 years, playing the piano, sharing Bible verses and encouraging the residents, saying, “Your families are raised now and God still has a purpose for your life every day. You matter to God, and you are very important in God’s eyes.”

Janet is survived by her sons, Larry (Tracy) and Tom; her daughter, Barbara; her grandsons, Matthew (Molly) and Tim (Dana) and their mother, Terry; her grandsons, Jim (Lauren) and Bill and their mother, Sandy; great-grandsons, Fletcher, Keaton, Tate, and Riley; and loyal, bedside companion granddog, Trudy. Further survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her loving parents; her sisters, Marie, Edna, Helen, Ruth, and Signe and their spouses; her brothers, Magnus, Erling Jr., Carl, and Edward and their spouses; and son-in-law, Paul.

A visitation will be held on Monday, Aug. 16, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at MIDVALE BAPTIST CHURCH, 821 S. Midvale Boulevard, Madison. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 12 noon at VERMONT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 9886 Vermont Church Road, Black Earth. A visitation will be held at church one hour prior to service. Burial will be in the parish cemetery, followed by a luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Feed the Children, Compassion International, CBN Operation Blessing, Samaritan's Purse, or Salvation Army of Dane County. A very special THANK YOU to everyone who brightened Janet’s day with a MUCH APPRECIATED visit.  We are grateful to those who helped tend to her care, especially Rica, Kate, and Dr. Catherine James. Thank you to all the staff at Hospice for their wonderful care.

Dear Mom, you were so kind to us and such an inspiration in our lives. We will be forever grateful. Love, Larry, Tom and Barbara.

'TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS: Hymn by William J. Kirkpatrick

“I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, friend; and I know that thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end.”

THAT WILL BE GLORY: Hymn by Charles H. Gabriel

“When by His grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory, be glory for me.”

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