IL/WI - Jean M Jape, last seen in Manitowoc, WI, 7 November 1997. Letter sent from Illinois January 1998 *NamUs #MP153365*

[AirForceVet24]

Name: Jean M Jape,
Missing Since: November 7, 1997
Location: Illinois
Age: 38 years old
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female
Added to Namus: December 16, 2025

Circumstance:
Jean Jape was last seen on 11/07/1997 in the City of Manitowoc WI. Jape lived in the area of Fond du lac WI for a short period of time. Three months after her disappearance, family received a hand written letter believed to be from Jean which was post marked in Illinois. The letter was sent around January 1998 and Jape has not been seen or heard from since.

Agency and Case Number:
Manitowoc Police Department
(920) 686-6500
Agency Case Number2025-14913 and 1997-11074

Source link: The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

No photo of her is known.

 

[AirForceVet24]

So this case was just added to NAMUS recently. I did ancestry research on her to see if I can find a photo of her. Instead, I found a source that in 1999, she was divorced from John Henrey Jape in Manitowoc. A quick search of him, shows that he died in 2001 aged 48 years old. I then did a Find a Grave search for him and found him in there as well. So we need to find what her maiden name is. I do see on Johns obituary that they share a son named Edwin L Jape.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

So this case was just added to NAMUS recently. I did ancestry research on her to see if I can find a photo of her. Instead, I found a source that in 1999, she was divorced from John Henrey Jape in Manitowoc. A quick search of him, shows that he died in 2001 aged 48 years old. I then did a Find a Grave search for him and found him in there as well. So we need to find what her maiden name is. I do see on Johns obituary that they share a son named Edwin L Jape.

Her maiden name was Schleis, and her previous married name was Janowski.

Article clipped from Herald-Times-Reporter

Clipping found in Herald-Times-Reporter published in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on 11/19/1978.

www.newspapers.com

Here's a photo of her from her wedding in November 1978

 

[AirForceVet24]

Thank you for finding that!!!

 

[dotr]

Mar. 23, 2026

Manitowoc police renew search for woman missing since 1997

The disappearance of Jean Jape has yet to be resolved after nearly three decades.

www.wbay.com

Mar 19, 2026
The Manitowoc Police Department is renewing its request for the public’s assistance in a cold case from 1997.

March 19, 2026 rbbm.

Manitowoc police release age progression photos of woman who disappeared in 1997

The Manitowoc Police Department hopes new age progression photos might aid in the search for a woman who disappeared almost 30 years ago.

fox11online.com

'Jean Jape, a woman from the Manitowoc area, was last seen on or around Nov. 20, 1997, when she was 38 years old. Authorities say she was planning to go out of town for the weekend, but was never heard from again. Despite extensive investigative efforts since she went missing, Jape's whereabouts remain unknown.
Now, authorities are revisiting the decades-old cold case and asking the public for their assistance.
On Thursday, MPD released age progression images depicting what Jape may look like today. She would be 66 years old.''

''When Jape disappeared, she was 38 years old with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She is a white female, 5'2" and 165 pounds. Possible aliases include Jean Schleis or Jean Janowski.''

Jean Jape original photo vs. age progression photo (Photo courtesy: Manitowoc Police Department)

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Manitowoc police renewed their search for clues in the disappearance

Daughter of woman missing since 1997 discusses cold case investigation

Manitowoc police renewed their search for clues in the disappearance of Jean Jape

www.wbay.com