Janet Ann Durham, 87, of Davenport, formerly of Dubuque, died Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 11:15 am Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory.

The Funeral Service for Janet will be 11:30 am Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory with Deacon Mike Ellis officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Key West at a later date.

Janet was born August 30, 1937, in Dubuque, IA, the daughter of Howard and Evelyn McCullough Smith. She served as valedictorian of her 1956 class at St. Joseph Academy and attended Clarke College. Her social concern for people led to a keen interest in civic and political affairs, from registering voters to precinct election official to appointment as Dubuque County Deputy Commissioner of Elections from 1977 – 1987.

She served on many Boards and Commissions for the City and County of Dubuque: Human Rights, Transit Board, Council Advisory Commission, and EEOC. She was also officer in non-governmental volunteer groups: Ecumenical Council, League of Women Voters, Fine Arts Society, Democratic Central Committee, BVM Alumnae Association, and board member to Dubuque’s first Friendship Force exchange trip-to Guatemala.

Janet was married to Robert L. Jones from 1957 to 1975 and later married Paul E. Durham on July 4, 1981. Following Paul’s 1987 transfer to Wilmington, NC, she served her new home area for 21 years as chair of the New Hanover County Library Board, president of Newcomers Club, and officer of League of Women Voters. She served elections as a precinct election official, chair of Early Voting precincts, Co-chair in 2004 of the first Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus of NHC, and treasurer of NC Democratic Women 2006 state convention.

Upon her return to this area, she rejoined many of the Dubuque groups, became board member of Friends of County Library, and of Village Cooperative of Asbury board of directors. In her final years, at the age of 84, Janet embraced one more adventure: moving to Davenport, Iowa, to be closer to her daughter Julie and family. She found joy in meeting new people, discovering new places, and-most of all-spending treasured time with her grandchildren and beloved great-grandchildren, Claire, Kate, and Graham, who lived just minutes away. Janet had the gift of conversation and an easy, natural way of putting people at ease. She was an enthusiastic lifelong learner who passed that love of curiosity and discovery on to her family. She delighted in simple pleasures-clouds, contrails, blue skies, and birds-and never lost her sense of wonder at the beauty of the world. Ever warm and welcoming, Janet had a ready smile for all. No one was a stranger for long. In her final wishes, she asked that some of her ashes be scattered, saying, “It would be so nice to have a few molecules of me drifting around this beautiful world.”

Survivors include two daughters, Julie (James) Hackbarth of Eldridge, IA, and Linda (Jeff) Booth of North Richland Hills, TX; three step-daughters, Linda (Terry) Bloome of Plainfield, IL, Susan (Philip) Paradiso of Dubuque, and Nancy (Terry) Fisher of Cedar Rapids, IA; 15 beloved grandchildren; and 16 cherished great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Paul, she was preceded in death by her parents, and her step-son, James Durham.

Memorials have been established for Sisters of Charity and League of Women Voters of Dubuque.

A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences sent to the family by visiting Janet’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.