Janet Mead, 91 of Marshalltown, IA passed away Saturday, September 25, 2021 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2021 at St Francis of Assisi – St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a Vigil Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 30, 2021 at St Francis of Assisi – St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Marshalltown Community College/Janet Mead Memorial Scholarship Fund or Iowa River Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.
Janet was born on August 6, 1930, to Louis and Ethel (Buckley) White in Hammond, Indiana. She attended St. Victor’s Grade School in Calumet City, Illinois and graduated from Bishop Noll High School in Hammond, Indiana. She then attended St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. She married Edward J. Mead of Marshalltown, Iowa, the love of her life, on January 26, 1952, at St. Victor’s Church. They began their married life in Dayton, Ohio, where Ed was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. After Ed’s military service, they made their home on the Mead family farm.
After coming to Marshalltown, Janet continued her education and obtained her BA in Library Science from the University of Northern Iowa. She completed her post-graduate work at Iowa State University in Gerontology, achieving an MS in Education. Janet’s career was spent at Marshalltown Community College, first as a librarian and then as a counselor. After retirement, she served on the MCC Foundation Board. Janet was a lifelong, dedicated volunteer serving numerous boards including: Lenihan High School, St. Rita’s Study Club, and the Dubuque Diocese Board. She was a member and past president of the Marshalltown Assistance League, 20th Century Club, St. Rita’s Study Club, and the Marietta Club. She was also a member of PEO Chapter JU and served on the United Way Board.
Janet touched many lives, was well known and well-loved in the community for her welcoming and loving ways extended to friends, family, students and even people she just met. Many people have shared the positive impact she has had on their lives as a counselor at MCC, as a family and personal counselor, as a friend, and as a member of St. Mary’s Church and numerous groups, clubs, and committees. Janet was always a “glass half-full” person, seeing the positive in every situation. She loved being around people and made every gathering more fun. She was a blessing to all she encountered.
Janet will be dearly missed by her five loving children: Edward (Veronica) Boston, MA, Richard (Diane) Omaha, NE, Daniel (Debra), Marshalltown, Rosanne, Marshalltown, and Tom (Suzanne) Marshalltown; her grandchildren, Angela (Brad) Pline, Clive, Iowa, Matthew (Sarah) Mead, Nashville, TN, Katie (John) Southard, Lees Summit, MO, Michaela Aldredge, Omaha, NE, Ryan Mead, Atlanta, GA, Turner Mead, Lincoln, NE, Kaley Mead, Milwaukee, WI, Cody Mead, Marshalltown, and her great grandchildren, Addison and Harrison Pline, Aaron Mead, Nicolas and Camden Aldredge, Sadie and Enzo Southard, and Kane Mead. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren brought her immeasurable joy. In death, she has rejoined her husband, Edward and his parents Edward and Alice Mead and her parents, Louis and Ethel White.
Her family wishes to thank the staff of Glenwood Place and Iowa River Hospice for the excellent care given to Janet. You were a blessing to her and to us.