Newbury Park, CA - Lisbeth "Janey" Schmitt

December 7, 1940 - April 8, 2026

Lisbeth "Janey" Schmitt passed peacefully on April 8, 2026, having maintained her independence and dignity until the end. Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on December 7, 1940, she was the daughter of Dr. Alton J. Schmitt and Ella M. Schmitt (née Schultz) and a proud 1959 graduate of Sheboygan North High School. Janey left Wisconsin that same year to attend UCLA alongside her brothers, Alton and Jim, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and a Bruin Belle. A talented athlete, she was a ranked junior tennis player and carried her competitive spirit throughout life.

Janey was a devoted mother to Dr. Michael Mitchell and Mark Mitchell, and a loving companion to her cherished golden retrievers and her Corgi, Jessie. She raised her sons in Woodland Hills, California, only two blocks from her older brother Alton (wife, Mary-Alice née Fox), and made family a lifelong priority. Summers spent in Green Lake, Wisconsin, were especially dear to her, and she ensured those traditions lived on through camping trips there with her boys. Known as the "glue" of the Schultz family, Janey meticulously archived photos and correspondence, keeping generations connected. She believed deeply in broadening horizons—traveling extensively throughout Europe and Australia and hosting foreign exchange students from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, and the Netherlands to give her sons a truly worldly upbringing.

Janey was a pillar of her community: a consummate team mom, longtime unofficial photographer for nearly a decade of El Camino Real High School football, and a welcoming presence to her sons' friends—famous for hosting large gatherings while always keeping a watchful, caring eye. She worked for more than 30 years at the engineering firm Profimatics, later sold to Honeywell, from which she retired. An avid gardener and Harley-Davidson rider who proudly made the pilgrimage to Sturgis, Janey delighted neighbors with her decorated Newbury Park, CA home, holiday displays, and endless dog treats. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, celebrated with elaborate villages, lights, garlands, and the unmistakable aroma of her famous frosted fruit bars.

Janey is survived by her beloved grandchildren Riley, Alton, Grant, Elise, and Morgan; her son Mark (wife Carolyn, son Jake); her twin brother Jim (wife Penny), Mike's widow, Kris, and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and family who were enriched by her warmth, generosity, and joyful spirit.

A celebration of life in California will be scheduled at a later date.