Jane Anne Twenge

Jane Anne Twenge

October 17, 1945 – October 14, 2026

Jane Anne Twenge was never particularly interested in sitting still. Whether traveling the world, riding her bicycle, caring for patients, or organizing the next family adventure, she believed life was meant to be lived—and preferably with a plan.

Jane passed away on October 14, 2026, following a short illness, just three days shy of her 81st birthday and five days before what would have been her 52nd wedding anniversary.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Charles and Jane Laverne Kronmueller, Jane graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas, before attending nursing school and beginning a career that would span more than 45 years.

She proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era, attaining the rank of Captain. Her nursing career took her from labor and delivery to communicable disease epidemiology, ultimately retiring from the State of Missouri. Along the way, she had the rather unusual distinction of caring for former First Lady Bess Truman in the Truman family home in Independence, Missouri. Not many nurses can claim a former First Lady among their patients.

On October 19, 1974, Jane married Duane Twenge, beginning a partnership that would last nearly 52 years and cover more miles than most people could count.

When Jane and Duane retired, they apparently misunderstood the concept. Rather than settling into a quiet retirement, they spent the next 14 years traveling almost nonstop throughout the United States, using Beaufort, South Carolina, as their home base. Jane loved bicycling, not simply for exercise, but as a way to experience the world, and she and Duane rode countless miles together.

Their adventures extended far beyond the United States, from riding camels in the desert to rafting on the Amazon River to navigating the streets of India by rickshaw. Jane was rarely one to turn down an opportunity to experience something new, especially when accompanied by Duane, her son Karl, daughter-in-law Angie, and grandsons Gus and Winston.

Jane was opinionated, fiercely independent, adventurous, and usually quite certain about how things ought to be done. She appreciated a good plan, preferably one of her own making, but she also had a wonderful ability to laugh at others—and, when the occasion called for it, herself.

As a grandmother, Jane was not content to simply sit on the sidelines. From scavenger hunts to adventures in Russia and countless other destinations, Gus and Winston grew up with a grandmother who believed the world was something to be explored, not merely read about.

A lifelong Episcopalian and the daughter of an Episcopal priest, Jane’s faith was an important part of her life. She served on church vestries and volunteered her time to numerous church committees and activities. She was also a longtime supporter of Special Olympics and Disabled American Veterans. For Jane, service to others wasn’t simply a profession; it was a lifelong commitment.

Jane is survived by her husband, Duane Twenge; her son, Karl Twenge, and his wife, Angie; and her grandsons, Augustus “Gus” Twenge and Winston Twenge.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Jane Laverne Kronmueller, and her brother, Christopher Kronmueller.

After 80 years, nearly 52 years of marriage, 45 years of nursing, 14 years on the road, and countless adventures, Jane leaves behind a family with enough stories to keep her memory alive for generations.

And if there’s one thing her family knows for certain, it’s that wherever she’s headed next, Jane probably already has the itinerary planned.

A memorial service celebrating Jane’s life will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1100 Paris Avenue, Port Royal, South Carolina. The service will be followed by a military honors committal service at 12:00 noon at the pavilion at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1100 Paris Avenue, Port Royal, South Carolina 29935, in Jane’s memory.