Jane Ellyn Gudgel

Jane Ellyn Gudgel (Leonard), 79, of Hide-A-Way Hills, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 19, 2024, at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio. Born February 22, 1944, Jane was the middle child of Harry and Alice (Niman) Leonard of Ottumwa, IA. She played flute and piccolo in the band at Ottumwa High School. With her sense of freedom and independence, she moved to California and ultimately lived in Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Ohio, where she lived for more than 30 years.

She married Edwin (Ed) Gudgel in October 1990. They started their life together in Columbus, Ohio, and eventually moved to Hide-A-Way Hills in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. Jane worked as a medical secretary for many years in Columbus. In addition, she did freelance medical transcription for doctors and helped other people with their typing needs. She also volunteered in a variety of organizations.

In her free time, she enjoyed going out on their pontoon boat, golfing, gardening, and visiting with her many friends. She frequently joined Ed at the shooting range, where she could typically be found reading a Danielle Steele book. Jane loved to travel, and she and Ed took many road trips throughout the country. As an extrovert, Jane rarely met a stranger. She loved to laugh and kept her sense of humor until the end. She was known to bring her potato salad to potlucks and social events, which was pretty much the only thing she knew how to cook! Jane took immense pride in her husband’s cooking skills and her daughter’s accomplishments. Jane also loved her pets.

She is survived by her husband, Edwin Gudgel, her daughter, Julie Snyder-Yuly (Farin Yuly), and her sisters Jo Ann Cloyd and Janice Kenyon.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Alice Leonard.

Jane was loved by her family and will be missed.

Visitation will be from 10 AM until 11 AM on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 405 N. COLUMBUS ST., LANCASTER, OHIO 43130. The funeral service will follow the visitation Thursday at 11 AM in Lancaster. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery, Bremen, OH.