Jan

Gwendolyn “Jan” Carter of Wood River passed away surrounded by her loved ones on January 13th, 2025. Memorial services will be held 10:30am at United Methodist Church in Alda, Nebraska with Rachel Nkonge officiating. Inurnment service will be held at Wood River cemetery immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to United Methodist Church or the Wood River Cemetery Association. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family.

In Life:

Jan was born on May 21, 1938 in Gibbon, Nebraska to Everett Shiers and Flossie (Shaner) Shiers. In her youth, Jan grew up in Kearney, Nebraska attending Stone School for first-grade and later Emerson Elementary. She finished her high school education at Kearney High, graduating in 1956. 

She was united in marriage to Donald Carter of Wood River on August 4, 1963 in Kearney, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Kearney until later moving to Wood River to take over the family business, Carter’s Grocery, so that Don’s parents could retire.

Jan was very active in her church, loved singing in the choir and was honored for her work as a Sunday School Teacher for Wood River First United Methodist Church from 2001 to 2002. She spent time working as a waitress at Union 76 and dedicated much of her time as a volunteer. As someone who loved taking care of others, she served Good Samaritan of Wood River and was recognized for her devotion to helping those in hospice at AseraCare Hospice by Nebraska Hospice & Palliative Care Association. She also contributed to the community of Wood River by helping to create the Wood River Area Community Choir with Vince Boudreau. 

As a parent to her three sons, she attended all their sports games and activities. Jan always enjoyed the company of her nieces and nephews and loved to babysit her grandchildren and later her great grandchildren. Jan was an avid reader, a skilled organist and an angler. Jan and her late husband Don spent much of their time in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 

In Memory: 

Jan was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents, seven brothers and four sisters. Those left to cherish include her sons, Doug (Cindy) Carter, Greg (Michele) Carter and Michael (Tammy) Carter; grandchildren, Arianne Carter, Alexis (Caleb) Haffner, Braden Carter, Reece Carter, Kylee (Christopher) Gaston, and Lyric Carter; and her seventeen great grandchildren.