Janice Lynn (Steffen) Nichter, 64, of Fort Wayne and Noblesville, passed away peacefully at Stillwater Hospice Home on Saturday morning, Oct. 10, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer.
Jan was born in Bluffton on June 23, 1962, to Franklin “Frank” and Nancy (Plummer) Steffen. Her mother, Nancy, survives in Bluffton. She married Mike D. Nichter at the First Presbyterian Church in Bluffton on Sept. 14, 1985; he survives.
A 1980 graduate from Norwell High School, Jan worked at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for more than 30 years, spending most of those years as an office administrator. She retired in 2024 to accept her most coveted position – “nana”.
Jan loved hosting and taking care of others. She made everyone and everything around her just a little more special. She loved spending time at the lake, and also loved the holidays, gardening, traveling, cooking, and decorating. But what she loved most of all was being Mike’s wife, Ben, Greg and Veronica’s mom and Lyla’s nana.
Jan left behind a legacy of love and service. In addition to her husband, Mike, and mother, Nancy, she is also survived by her two sons, Ben Nichter of Cicero and Greg (Veronica) Nichter of Westfield, and granddaughter Lyla Jean Nichter, who are all honored to continue Jan’s legacy. She is also survived by three brothers, Doug (Vicki) Steffen of Decatur, Scott (Kathy) Steffen of Bluffton and Mark Steffen of Fort Wayne; and a sister, Nicole (Justin) Bigelow of Waterloo.
She was preceded in death by her father, Franklin “Frank” Steffen.
Visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, from 2 until 7 p.m., at Goodwin – Harnish Funeral Home in Bluffton. Visitation will also be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, with services to follow at 10:30 a.m. at Aboite Lutheran Church, 10312 Aboite Center Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Dr. Joshua Pagan will officiate. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton.
Memorial contributions in Jan’s memory may be directed to Stillwater Hospice (Fort Wayne), the American Cancer Society, or Westfield Washington Public Library – a treasured place for her and Lyla.
Online condolences may be made at www.goodwinharnish.com.