Jane Bruggenschmidt

M. Jane Bruggenschmidt of Westfield, IN, formerly of Evansville, IN, died Friday evening, October 20, 2023, in the company of her family and closest friends. She was 67.

Jane was born in Tell City, IN on Friday the 13th of April 1956, the eldest child of the late James H. and Marian F. Bruggenschmidt. Jane grew up in Tell City, where her parents owned and operated a beer distributorship, Local Beers, Inc., for several decades. Jane was a 1974 graduate of Tell City High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and traveled to Paris as part of her advanced studies in French.

A luminary of southern Indiana interior and exterior design, Jane practiced her craft for over 40 years, most notably in affiliation with Ethan Allen, Whetstine Homes and People’s Furniture. Throughout the 1990s, her design work was featured in the annual Evansville Parade of Homes, garnering several awards. Her life’s work can be seen and felt in the countless homes she made more beautiful and more comfortable in the community.

In 2018, Jane moved to Westfield to help care for her growing troupe of granddaughters; they brought her great joy in the twilight of her life. Jane will be remembered by all who knew her for her creativity, sense of humor, and generous spirit.

Jane is survived by her son, Alex Bruggenschmidt and his wife Lindsey, granddaughters, Nora, Hazel, Reese and Zoe Bruggenschmidt, niece Annie Bruggenschmidt, and aunt, Rosalia “Poppy” Hammerle. She is also survived by many cherished cousins and lifelong friends. Jane was preceded in death by her parents, brother, James M. Bruggenschmidt, and many beloved aunts and uncles.

The family would like to thank Jane’s lifelong best friends, Meg Karney Arnold, Chrstine Kanneberg, Jean Ryan, Caryn Weiss, and her cousins Lynn Mattingly, Leigh Ann Gamble, and Sarah Mazzocco for their care and support throughout Jane’s extended illness.

Visitation will be held at Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home in Tell City on Friday, October 27 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Tell City on Saturday, October 28, at 10:00 a.m., with burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery to follow.

An open house celebration of Jane’s life will be held at DiLegge’s restaurant in Evansville on Saturday, October 28, beginning at 5:00 p.m. All mourners are invited to join in the revelry and libations.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, www.indiana@cff.org, or the Indiana Montessori Academy, 2925 W. 146th St., Carmel, IN 46074.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com.

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