Dr. Janet Doreen Veit

Dr. Janet Doreen Veit, 48, of La Crescent, MN passed away Sunday, May 20, while on a fly fishing vacation in Iceland.  She was the cherished wife of Brian Schumacher, who died alongside her.

Janet was born in Breckenridge, MN on April 27, 1970, and grew up on the family farm near Mooreton, ND. She was the adored daughter of the late Richard and Mary Ann Veit. Janet attended school in Wyndmere, ND, where she excelled at nearly everything. She graduated from the University of North Dakota and then from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Janet started her veterinary career 22 years ago at Hillside Animal Hospital in La Crosse, WI.  She fell in love with a tall, good-looking client who brought his Viszla to the clinic for care. She was lucky enough to marry him on October 2, 1999. She lived life's adventures with Brian and practiced veterinary medicine at Hillside until her death.

Janet leaves behind her grieving brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Her siblings are: Mary Roy of Elk River, MN; Brian and Deb Veit of Ridgecrest, CA; Patrice Veit of River Falls, WI; Hugh Veit and Margaret Fitzergerald of Fargo, ND; Paul and Deb Veit of Oakdale, MN; and Rich and Mary Veit of Lake Park MN. She is also survived by her aunt, Sister Annella Henger OSF of Little Falls, MN. Janet loved Brian's family as she did her own, and the Veit family feels keenly the loss of their beloved brother-in-law, Brian Schumacher. Janet and Brian doted on their dogs Dora and Angus, and their cats Cassie and Nigel, and would be glad to know their pets have been cared for generously and lovingly since their passing. Besides her families, Janet leaves countless friends with whom she maintained close ties from her grade school to college years, her veterinary school partners in adventure, her devoted colleagues and clients at Hillside, and in every community or organization she touched. Janet had more friends than most dream to have due to her kindness, her goodness, her generous nature, and her abounding love of the world. They all share in the family's mourning.

Janet was an incredible person who loved her husband dearly and who loved spending time with him, their animals, and their friends.  From learning and excelling in fly fishing (always catch and release!), to hiking in the parks with her dogs, to eating with gusto at all their favorite restaurants in La Crosse and beyond, to countless soothing words and kisses to her patients, to plunging into the frigid Mississippi or Dancing with the Stars to raise money for charity, Janet gave her all for her family, her friends, her career, and her community.