Janice Faye DeMey

Janice Faye DeMey, 81, of Denison, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She was born on February 11, 1943, at her family’s home in Ute, Monona County, Iowa, to Laverne and Martha (Hingst) Strait.

She was baptized on March 14, 1943, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa. She attended Charter Oak Schools through the 10th grade. At the age of 17, she married John DeMey on July 3, 1960, at St. John Lutheran Church. Together, they built a life filled with love and adventure, raising four children: Denny, Rick, Dan, and Amy.

Creating a warm and loving home in Denison, Janice devoted her life to her family. She was a dedicated homemaker, known for her exceptional turkey stuffing and baking skills. She had a special talent for bringing people together, hosting memorable family grill-outs and card games with friends.

Janice had a deep passion for dirt track and stock car racing. She was John’s biggest supporter during his racing career, cheering him on from the stands. Her enthusiasm extended to their son Dan and later to her grandson Shane, proudly cheering them on as their biggest fan. Her family fondly recalls the time she got stuck in a race car while motivating Dan to continue pursuing his passion. Racing was a shared love that brought the entire family together, often leading to travels across the country for events.

Janice also enjoyed simple pleasures, such as planting flowers on her patio, visiting casinos in Sloan and Onawa, and indulging in her favorite—crab legs. She was a devoted mother, always present at her children’s activities and checking in on them, a tradition she upheld throughout her life. Janice’s life was a testament to love, family, and faith. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew her.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, John DeMey of Denison; her children, Denny (Sherri) DeMey of Denison, Rick DeMey of Denison, Dan (Miarian) DeMey of Dow City, and Amy DeMey of Denison; grandchildren, Eric (Niki) Swanson, Michael Swanson, Nathaly Castro, Luis Castro, Elvin Castro, Maria Castro, and Shane (Devon) DeMey; great-grandchildren, Miriam Swanson and Vivian Soto; and sisters-in-law, Sharon Cue of Dunlap and Ellen Brink of Dow City. Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Laverne and Martha Strait.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, with visitation one hour prior starting at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Dow City Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.