Jane Elizabeth Klasing

With both sadness and in celebration of the Resurrection, we announce that Jane P. Klasing entered the Church Triumphant on Saturday, April 26, 2025.  Jane was born October 24, 1940, in Braintree, Massachusetts to Roy and Elizabeth Phillips.

Jane’s family was Presbyterian for generations, having emigrated from Scotland via Prince Edward Island to Massachusetts.  The Phillips Family moved to Peekskill, New York where Jane attended Lakeland High School, in the Class of 1958.  She was class president, drum major, and prom queen.  Jane earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York, Albany.  She earned two Master’s Degrees in “English Language and Literature/Letters” and “Library Information Science and Administration” from Columbia University.

Jane and her daughter, Stephanie, moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1971.  Jane worked as Director of Learning Resources for Broward County Schools for 23 years (1971-1994).  Following retirement from Broward County schools, Jane coordinated the Master’s Degree program in “Library and Information Studies” in southeast Florida for Florida State University.   Thereafter, Jane served as a Library Media Consultant then as the Coordinator of Senior Programing for the Department of Recreation for the City of Sanibel.

While racing sailboats in 1975, Jane met and fell in love with John Klasing.  They married the following year.  Their love culminated in a marriage of 50 years and established a new, blended family.

In 2001, John and Jane moved to Vero Beach from Ft. Myers to be with family.  In Vero Beach, Jane served as a leader and/or volunteer in many organizations from the Environmental Learning Center to the Garden Club of Indian River County (Allamanda Circle) to the Dodgertown Elementary Reading Program.  Jane was a supporter and lover of the arts and celebrated great music.

Jane was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church.  She was an ordained Elder and Deacon.  Among her many contributions to the church community, Jane was an educator and teacher, was a founding board member of the First Presbyterian Church Preschool and organized and led international travel programs for the congregation.  Her planning led group trips to Germany, Scotland, Mexico, Austria, and China.  In Austria, the tour attended the Passion Play in Oberammergau.  In China, Jane facilitated a meeting with Chinese Council of Christian Churches in Shanghai.  In Mexico, Jane labored with others to construct a church sanctuary in Ticul.  The love that she poured into her local church made a global impact.

Jane’s character was kind yet determined, fun yet faithful, festive yet focused.  Like the Matriarchs in Genesis, Jane was a strong-willed woman who forged a united and successful family.

Jane is survived by her loving husband, John; her children, Stephanie (Tim), Lisa (Jeff), John, Jr. and Scott (Gisele); her grandchildren, Jeffrey (Sarah), Joshua, Abigail (Ravi), Mary Melissa, McKenzie (Lily), Savannah (Jimmy), and Jonathan; her great-grandchildren, Emmalyn, Jacob, Isaiah, Yeva, and Riya.  Jane was preceded in death by her first husband, Milton, and her sister, Martha.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and Thanksgiving for the Life of Jane P. Klasing will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, Florida at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, and in accordance with Jane’s wishes, memorial donations may be made in her name to First Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary Building Fund, 520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.