Jane E. Phelps

Jane Nelson Phelps, 67, of Loves Park, Illinois passed away peacefully at home hospice on November 17. At her side was her husband Jim, her best friend Andrea Enderle, and her husband Dan.

Jane was the daughter of Kenneth Nelson, and Lucille (Bergland) Nelson of Leaf River Illinois. Jane graduated with a degree in education from Carthage College, and a masters degree from St. Xavier University. She became a special education teacher at Swan Hillman School in Rockford where she met her husband of 37 wonderful years, Jim Phelps. Jane was fond of telling the story of how they first met on the picket line during a teachers’ strike. Jane was known as an excellent teacher by staff and students.

Jane was certainly into physical fitness: biking, walking, working out and piling up the fit bit steps on her rebounder while watching old black and white mysteries. Jane always made efforts to get her ‘steps’ in, and achieve daily fitness goals. She regularly logged in over 100,000 steps per week. She recently added an e-bike to her workout equipment where she could enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Jane enjoyed playing her ukulele, watching deer, hummingbirds, and feeding chipmunks peanuts from her hand. Jim and Jane loved to spend lots of time at their cabin and lake in Presque Isle, Wisconsin. In addition, Jim and Jane took trips to the Dominican Republic, Riviera Maya, Costa Rica and its super zip line challenge.

Survivors include her husband Jim, and her sisters Mary Morrison of Leaf River, and Carol Erxleben of Rockford. She also had four nieces and one nephew. She left us far too soon.

A memorial visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until a time of service at 5:45 P.M. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford.

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