Phyllis E Jans

Phyllis Emma Schroeder Jans was born April 21, 1920, the daughter of Johannes and Clara Schroeder. She passed away Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa at the age of ninety-five.
Phyllis was born on the family farm, Hayes Township, north of Manning and was baptized on December 12, 1925 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. She received her education in country schools and graduated in 1937 from Manning High School. On April 27, 1940, she was united in marriage to Wayne W. Jans at the Lutheran Parsonage in Denison.
Phyllis worked several years at J.C. Penny’s in Carroll. After Wayne returned home from World War II, they eventually bought a grocery store in Westside in 1946 and called it Jans Market. After years of being a stay at home mom and raising four children, she worked side by side with Wayne at the grocery store till their retirement in 1979, when they sold the store.
In 1987, Phyllis was involved in remodeling the old Horsehead Caf into a new business called The Diner, where she was co-manager for several years. Phyllis’s work at the diner provided her fellowship with her friends, inspired her and gave her a renewed meaning to her life.
Phyllis was a member of the United Church, having taught Sunday School years ago; a 50 year member of the Westside Legion Auxiliary; Westside and Arcadia Cemetery Association; United Church Women’s Group and Busy Thimbles quilting group. In earlier years she and Wayne enjoyed dancing, bowling and playing cards with friends. Phyllis also enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, quilting, cooking and baking. No one ever left her house hungry. In March 2012, Phyllis moved to Heritage Heights in Denison. She enjoyed her new apartment and all the new friends she met. In 2013, she moved to Eventide.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne in 2006; her parents; sisters, Berneice and Gertrude; brothers, Vernon, Wilbur and Merlin. Survivors include four children: Wanda (Dave); Arlan (Deb); Curtis (Linda); Marla; seven grandchildren: Kirk, Kari (Shannon) ; Eric (Elizabeth), Donovan (Kristin),Alysia (Brad), Serena (Adam), Nathan (Kelly) ;step-grandson, Mark (Tonia) ; 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Ruth; many nieces, nephews and friends.