Janis Rae Harlan, 91, of Eagle Grove passed away July 7, 2022 in Sebastian,
Florida with loving family by her side.
Funeral services for Janis Harlan will be held on Monday, July 18, 2022 at 10:30
AM at Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion, 1801 Central Avenue East, with Pastor Mike
Crawford officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM on Monday prior to the
funeral service. Private burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Eagle
Grove. Janis Rae (Godfrey) Harlan was born September 16, 1930 to John and Raye
(Fisher) Godfrey in Eagle Grove. Janis's family history in Eagle Grove goes back
to when her grandparents moved to Eagle Grove during the town's earliest days;
she was raised and educated in Eagle Grove, graduating from Eagle Grove High
School with the class of 1948. Following high school Janis attended Iowa State
Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) where she earned her
teaching degree. Janis loved teaching and taught kindergarten in her early
career and later worked as a substitute teacher in the Eagle Grove School
District for several years. Many of Janis's former kindergarten students have
stayed in contact with her. The touching letters and frequent visits from former
students confirmed the positive and deep impact Janis had on her student's
lives. Janis and Daryl R. Harlan were united in marriage on June 15, 1952 at the
Congregational Church in Eagle Grove. They made their home in Eagle Grove where
they raised three children. They were active members of the United Church of
Christ. Janis and Daryl also loved to entertain in their home. They enjoyed
hosting couples bridge clubs, bible studies and dinner parties with family and
friends. Janis also enjoyed hosting and attending weekly coffee parties with her
tight knit circle of girlfriends. When their health allowed, Janis and Daryl
enjoyed traveling and took several special trips overseas before Daryl became
disabled by a severe stroke in 1981. Janis lovingly cared for Daryl until he
passed away twelve years later. Janis and Daryl were high school sweethearts and
adored each other, and their children and grandchildren to the very end. Family
always came first in their lives! Janis was also active in P.E.O. for more than
fifty years, often serving in the leadership roles of Chapter EJ when she was an
active member. Before she retired, Janis also worked at Fashions Unlimited
clothing store where she was known and appreciated for her ability to help
customers put together the perfect outfit for every occasion. Janis had an
innate flair for fashion and she never lost her desire to dress beautifully and
"sparkle". Most importantly, Janis was an adoring wife, mother, grandmother and
engaging friend to many! The last nine years of her life were sadly marred by
LBD (Dementia with Lewy bodies). But Janis never lost her zest for life and
socializing. In 2019, Janis was moved to Florida to be near her daughter, where
she gracefully lived out her final years. Janis would often tell her family, "I
couldn't love you more!" Janis lived her entire life making those who loved her
know that she meant every word of it. She is survived by her children: Dan
(Ginger) Harlan of Rochester, MN and Jane (Craig) Nichols of Melbourne Beach,
FL; grandchildren: Sidney (Pam) Harlan, Chelsea (Andrew) Volk and Graham
(Lauren) Nichols and five great-grandchildren. Janis was preceded in death by
her husband, Daryl; son, John; and sister, Rachel.