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Photo of Willis L. Janes

Willis L. Janes

8/12/1931 - 4/15/2008


Obituary


Willis L. Janes, 76, of Britt, died Tuesday (April 15, 2008) at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services for Willis Janes will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the Britt Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Joel DeBoer officiating.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation for Willis Janes will be held on Friday, April 18, 2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Ewing Funeral Home, 178 Center Street West in Britt, and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Willis Janes, the son of Veryl and Ella (Greenfield) Janes, was born August 12, 1931, in Jewel, Iowa. The family lived in the Jewel area until 1941, when they moved to a farm near Wesley. Willis attended country school and helped on the family farm.

On March 15, 1951, Willis was united in marriage with Phyllis Ullmann at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple farmed near Woden until 1958 when they moved to the family farm near Wesley. They farmed the home farm until 1968 when they moved into Britt.

Willis was then employed at Standard Oil for a couple of years; he drove school bus, and worked for Kerns John Deere Implement in Britt. He then began working for Hancock County running a maintainer grading country roads and moving snow. He was employed with Hancock County for 25 years retiring as road foreman.

Willis loved spending time with his family and his neighbors who were always ready to help when needed. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, boxing, and racing, he was an avid Dale Earnhardt fan. Willis also enjoyed gardening, woodworking and bird watching.

Willis was a member of the Britt Christian Reformed Church and the Britt Country Club.

Willis is survived by his wife of 57 years Phyllis; four children: Verdelle Janes of Sherman Oaks, California, Marline (Robert) Lewerke of Garner, Arliss (Robert) Bailey of Cedar Rapids, Ronald (Pam) Janes of Olathe, Kansas; three grandchildren: Lori (Wilken) Benjamin, William (Natalie) Janes, Matthew Janes; three great-grandchildren: Tre, Olivia, Marin; two sisters: Verla (Jere) Schmidt, Deloris (Robert) Ruter; brother Keith (Sandy) Janes; aunt Maria Lenning; several nieces and nephews; along with other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Veryl and Ella.