Janet Louise Mitchell, 83, passed away peacefully to heaven on January 8, 2025, listening to hymns with daughter Amy, after a brief illness at the University of Iowa Hospital. She would have been 84 on her birthday January 20, 1941, born in Maquoketa, IA to Wm Henry and Mary Irene (Winter) Deppey. She graduated from Maquoketa HS in 1959 and attended Cornell College in Mt Vernon and nurses training at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, MN and Mayo Clinic. She was an RN at St Lukes in Cedar Rapids for 3 years, from 1963-1966.

Janet married her HS sweetheart Ross Mitchell on Dec 28,1963 at the United Methodist Church in Maquoketa, who she met at a church youth group function. They just celebrated 61 yrs of marriage and have three children, seven grandchildren and three great grandsons. They will have four new great grandchildren in 2025.

They made their homes in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Eagle Grove and in Sergeant Bluff, IA 1970 – 1998 where Janet was involved in church, sang in the choir and led groups and attended Bible studies and BSF. She did many community activities, winning the Volunteer of the year award. She was a 4-H leader and a wonderful stay at home mom. She worked a few years at a senior living facility as an activity director. As a family they traveled around the US camping for summer vacations. As a couple they enjoyed traveling overseas to Europe and the British Isles and a cruise to Alaska. She loved her yearly sisters’ tours with Carol and friends.

Ross and Janet moved back to Maquoketa in 1998 where she volunteered in the community with meals on wheels and books on wheels and was involved with many church activities and was UMW President. She was known as the card and craft lady who helped many people find joy with Jesus and give people rides. She loved her classmates’ lunches, brown bag lunch, Town & Country Quilters, Garden Club, travelogues, and time spent with her family and grandchildren.

We are thankful for the loving care she received while living at Fieldstone Care Center in Dewitt, IA with Alzheimer’s for the last 2.5 years. She enjoyed visiting with people, reading her newspapers, bingo, crafts, Bible study and playing crazy 8 cards with family. She especially enjoyed seeing her three great grandsons when they visited.

Janet will be remembered for being kind to everyone, loving Jesus, making arts and crafts especially painting. Crazy 8 cards with family was her lucky game and she won with a smirk. She loved wearing her watch and knowing what time it was and eating ice cream. She loved all food and would never admit if she didn’t like it. She also loved the color red, especially her painted nails and lipstick always with a big smile. She remains with all that she encountered in how she touched their lives.

Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband Ross, who cared for her for many years. Daughter Jolyn (David) Richards, of Maquoketa, their children Ryland (Morgan & Eli) Richards, Mitchell (Jacey & Rainn) Richards, Blais (Lauren) Richlapp, Karysa (Ryan & Gryffin) Murphy; Son Dennis (fiancé Lori) Mitchell of Murietta CA, two sons Ryan and Russell (fiancé Lauren) Mitchell; Daughter Amy (boyfriend Terry) Mitchell of Maquoketa, her son, Donny Olson of Minot ND.

She is survived by her older sister Carol Evans, San Bruno, CA; brother-in- law Don (Mary) Mitchell of Silvas, IL; sister -in – laws Jean Mitchell of Mason City; and Joan (Gary) Polfliet of Bettendorf.  She has many nieces and nephews and friends that will greatly miss her including her bonus daughter Karla Myrtue of Sergeant Bluff.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Michael Mitchell, and daughter-in-law Grace Mitchell.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 A.M., Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa.  There is no visitation.  Burial will be at the Monmouth, Iowa Cemetery.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.CarsonAndSon.com.