Jane Louise Myhra, a former reporter for several Waupaca County newspapers, died Oct. 17, in Oshkosh. She was 69.
Born on Feb. 9, 1953, in Iola, Wis., to Palmer and Lois Myhra, she graduated from Iola-Scandinavia High School in 1971 and attended UW-River Falls.
Myhra began her career in journalism in 1996, writing for the Iola Herald and, after a merger, the Waupaca County Post. She also wrote for the Manawa Advocate, Wisconsin State Farmer, Wisconsin Horseman’s News and as a freelancer for Jones Publishing.
“For years, Jane was an integral part of our weekly publications of the Iola Herald and Manawa Advocate,” former Herald co-publishers Trey and Mary Foerster told the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. “She took a personal stake in documenting the happenings in our communities. In our small office group, Jane worked tirelessly to provide the best possible weekly newspaper for each locality. We could not have done it without her.”
“Jane was an integral part of our editorial content, giving of herself and time weekly through photography and writing, bringing to print the life and cultural happenings on a weekly basis. We and the communities she served owe her a depth of gratitude. She is a true journalist and consummate writer.
“But her writing endeavors didn’t stop with newspapers. She has written many fictional books and her own family life stories. Jane also was the editor for her father, Palmer, who also put down on papers some of life’s recollections.
“We don’t think a better life story could be written of a small-town writer who made a positive impact on Iola-Scandinavia and Manawa for decades.”
Myhra won many awards for her writing and was honored by the WNA several times for her work. She retired from journalism in March 2017.
