Jana Kay Gerwert, 53, died December 7, 2009 at her home under hospice care in St. Louis County. She was born August 15, 1956, to Henry Gerwert of Springfield and Mary Schubert Gerwert, deceased. Her step-mother, Mildred "Midge" Gerwert, preceded her in death. She is survived by brother Michael Gerwert, sister Mary Lamb and husband Reginald and their son Austin, and step brother Mark McClelland and wife Debi, all of Springfield. She is also survived by her long-time partner, Dale Weese of St. Louis County.

Jana was a 1974 graduate of Glendale High School in Springfield, MO. She provided day care for hundreds of Springfield children from her previous home on Campbell near Grand. Since 1996, she has lived in St. Louis County where she completed an Associates Degree in Human Services at St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley campus, in 2004. Jana lived one day at a time and was comforted in challenges by the Serenity Prayer.

Events will be held in both St. Louis County and Springfield.

An informal gathering of friends will celebrate her life on Friday, December 11, 2009, at 7:00 PM, at Holiday Inn – Airport West, 3400 Rider Trail Drive South, Earth City, MO, in the Joliet Ballroom,

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole, Springfield, MO,

Please make any donations in her name to the Arthritis Foundation, or any children’s charity.