Jan was born to Virgil & Ruby Cole on August 23, 1937, in Gothenburg NE and grew up on the family farm north of town.  She graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1956 and attended Grand Island Beauty School where she graduated with her Cosmetology License in 1958.   She married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Ludwig, on August 2, 1959, and had four children Kim, Sherri, Scott & Kari.  Bob & Jan moved several times within the state of Nebraska calling Gothenburg, Fremont, Scottsbluff and Sidney home before settling down in North Platte.  She worked in several salons cutting, perming and styling hair. When Sherri was born, she decided to be a stay-at-home Mom. Although she never gave up the scissors or perm rods for family or friends needing a trim or perm. Jan returned to work part time as a consultant at the Diet Center and then as a florist at Westfield Floral.  After her divorce, Jan returned to work full time at the Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired and a promotion led to her relocating to Lincoln NE in 1989.  Jan retired in 2004 and spent her well-earned free time with family and friends.

Jan loved to vacation with her family, go on quick road trips visiting friends and long RV trips to numerous national parks. She enjoyed camping and fishing in Wyoming and Canada and going on winter ski trips to Wyoming and Colorado.  Even though she never hit the slopes herself she enjoyed spending time with her family and watching her kids have fun.  She also spent time helping with 4-H teaching kids how to sew and cook, along with getting her hands dirty cleaning and shearing sheep before the county fair.   She liked to sew, knit, crochet, cross stitch, macrame, paint, make floral arrangements and get involved with any new craft idea.  She took up quilting 5 years ago and spent numerous hours in her sewing room making quilts, wall/door hangings, pillows and unique keepsakes for her loved ones.  Through all the stitches her ripper was a trusted pal, as every quilter knows is part of the love/hate relationship of quilting.   Jan will be remembered for her special gift of sharing her love and kindness with everyone she met.  Her warmth and love for others showed through her smile when family and friends visited, it made her day.

Jan is survived by daughters Kimbra (Tim) Green and Kari Novak; son Scott Ludwig and son-in-law Matt (Vawn) Stark; grandchildren Jacob Stark, Dylan (Mylasia) Ludwig, Hannah Green and Sarah Green; nieces Lyndee (Keith) Vergith, Crys (Doug) Max and Gloria (Don) Dovre; nephews Rick (Kelli) Ackerman, Matt Wilson, Bruce (Pat) Keiser, Brian (Torey) Keiser, Doug (Vickie) Keiser, Joe (Carol) Keiser and brother-in-law Robert Wilson Along with many great nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

Preceded in death by her parents Virgil and Ruby Cole, sister Phyllis (Dean) Ackerman, daughter Sherri Stark, son-in-law Steve Novak, grandson Eric Stark and Robert Ludwig, Donna & Daryl Keiser, Glenda Wilson, Lisa Wilson and Eva Ackerman.

Services will be held Tuesday, August 1st at 2:00 pm at Grace Community Evangelical Church, 6843 South Street in Lincoln. The burial service will be in Gothenburg on Saturday, August 5th at 2:00 pm at Gothenburg Cemetery, 41241 County Rd. After burial, gather with family to share memories of Jan at the Lutheran Church, 1512 Avenue G.

To leave a condolence please use the form below.