November 12, 1930 - October 19, 2024
Janet “Jan” Rose Shoenhair was born Nov. 12, 1930, in Milford. She was the daughter of Orvis and Elma (Stapley) Shillington. Janet passed away on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames with family by her side at the age of 93 years and 11 months. Janet was raised on the family farm south of Clarion and was baptized and confirmed in the Clarion United Methodist Church. She graduated from Clarion High School in 1948. Janet spent the next two years at Iowa State College (ISU) studying Home Economics. She met her future husband, Dick Shoenhair, at the Collegiate Methodist Church in Ames while they were both in the choir. She could actually duct tape the spot in the church basement where they met for the first time.
After Dick graduated from Iowa State, he and Janet got married on Aug. 27, 1950, in Clarion. Five children were born to this union: David William (died shortly after birth); Mary Ellen, Sue, Nancy and Carol. They moved to Bancroft for Dick’s job at Welp, Inc.
Janet was very active in the Swea City United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir, UMW chairperson, Sunday school teacher for the high school class, Christmas pageant director, and UMYF leader. She loved and enjoyed her church family.
Janet was also involved in the Bancroft and Swea City communities where she and Dick raised their family. Janet was an integral part of the start of the Bancroft Public Library of which she later became the library director for 24 years. She was a member of the Rotary, chairman of the Kossuth County Iowa Sesquicentennial celebration and music booster president at her daughter’s school. Janet was especially proud of starting the Bancroft Historical Society and all of the work involved in obtaining the current building and the collection of many of the local artifacts from Bancroft families.
At home, Janet absolutely LOVED to sew. Her sewing interest started at the age of 9. She sewed all of her own clothes, her wedding dress, all of her daughters’ clothes, including three of four wedding dresses. Janet could see a piece of clothing in a store, go home and visualize it, then make it herself. She also created her own patterns. Janet made several hundred masks for family, friends and charity organizations during the COVID epidemic. She was also an amazing cook and baker.
Janet loved to travel to Cable, Wis. to visit her aunt and cousins and stay at the cabin on the lake her grandparents built in the 1940s. Janet and Dick were avid fans of all Iowa State sports and were season ticket holders to Iowa State football for 49 years.
Janet is survived by four daughters: Mary Ellen (Jim) Power, Sue (Robert Vittengl) Daker, Nancy St. Clair, Carol Scharff, and AFS daughter, Patricia (Trish) Veale. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Lauren Wise, Jessica (Lucas) Meier, Robert (Molly) Power, Brian (Dawn) Daker, Michael Scharff and Sarah Daker. Janet also is survived by her great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Cora, Remi, Aubrey, Ava, Blythe, Jettson, Asher and one on the way. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins; as well as Marigold, her and Carol’s dog.
Janet was preceded in death by her husband Dick, son David, her parents Orvis and Elma Shillington, her brother Don (Marjorie) Shillington, son-in-law Wayne St. Clair, her father and mother-in-law, John and Ethyl Shoenhair, brothers-in-law John (Dorothea and Sandy) Shoenhair and Robert (Ruth) Shoenhair.
At Janet’s request, her body has been cremated and there will only be a private graveside service at a later date for family. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Bancroft Historical Society. Thank you to Lance at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care in Ames.