Jane Alva Champ

Jane “Janie” Alva Champ, 86, of De Pere, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Angel’s Touch Assisted Living & Memory Care/Unity Hospice on Monday, July 28, 2025. Jane was born on November 19, 1938 in Barnsdall Oklahoma to Lenora (Daniels) and Miner Mann. She was preceded in death by her parents. She also lost her brother, Larry Mann, a wonderful person who passed much too soon.

Jane is survived by her loving husband, David, whom she married March 25, 1958 in Centralia, Illinois. Jane had three sons: Mike (Eva); Joe (Patty); and Kelly (Jill), seven grandchildren (Cathryn [Michael], Johnathon, Brianna (Hunter), Trevor (Dani), Maddy (Austin), Nick, and Theo (Bri), and two great grandchildren--Cheyanne and Alden).

Family was Jane’s passion. She was the kind of person who, when a loved one was sick, would drive two states over and sleep in their hospital room on a reclining chair for days so the patient would never be alone. She loved her children and, later, their partners and would brag on them whenever appropriate. Her grandkids were ultra-special to her. She was always there if a grandchild needed a pep talk by phone, or if someone needed childcare. The highlight of her life had to be assembling all the grandkids she could muster, and taking them on wild trips to Branson, Missouri, taking in the music scene and Silver Dollar City (Jane loved to ride the roller coasters; her grandkids still marvel at that!).

While husband Dave completed his Architectural Structural Engineering degree at the University of Illinois, Jane made use of her college education, teaching elementary school to keep her young family afloat. Shortly after graduation, Dave took a position at an engineering firm in Green Bay (Jane said in the early years, she had a hard time making sense of the Northeastern Wisconsin accent!). Jane was instrumental in Dave’s leap to starting his own business—David G. Champ Engineering—on George Street in De Pere. Jane wore multiple hats, including: bookkeeper, office manager, receptionist, and…therapist (encouraging Dave to keep his chin up and keep trying in the face of rejection). Eventually, the encouragement and hard work paid off. The business survived, and was a great success.

The characteristic that perhaps few but close family know, was Jane’s wonderful artistic talents, each of which she developed at different stages of her long life. Throughout, Jane always gravitated toward nurturing this artistic drive, using various media. Soon after she could walk, someone strapped dance shoes on her. That toddler very soon evolved to become a noted award-winning dancer and vocal performer in Southern Illinois (she performed for thousands, and she even tap-danced on the radio!). Later she expressed her artistry other ways, including her work with a group of good friends in what they called, “The Crafts Group”, which featured the creation of highly detailed ornaments and decorations. Over the last several decades of her life, Jane fell in love with painting and utilizing water color, oil, and acrylic. Her paintings were remarkable.

There is much more we could say about Jane Champ: She taught English to Hmong immigrants; she coached people in writing their life stories; she was heavily involved with the PTA at the old Roosevelt School in Green Bay; for many years she scheduled the acolytes at the First United Methodist Church. If Janie was reading this obituary, she would probably express embarrassment. She never wished to be the center of attention and tended to redirect accolades to those around her—her family and dear friends.

The world lost a special person when Jane Champ passed, but we are sure heaven gained an angel…

A Celebration of the Life of Jane Champ is planned for Saturday, August 30 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 North Webster Ave., De Pere. The memorial service takes place at 5:00pm

In lieu of flowers, Jane’s family asks that donations be made to The Lewy Body Dementia Society of America.

The family would also like to deeply thank the entire staff of Angel’s Touch Assisted Living & Memory Care/Unity Hospice, whose exceptional care was instrumental in helping Jane through her final months.