Janice Kay Oleson

GARNAVILLO, IOWA

Janice (Jan) Oleson passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of eighty-four.

Jan was born in McGregor, Iowa, on October 30, 1941, to August and Zala Werger. She attended Garnavillo High School, where she met her lifelong partner and love of her life, Carroll (Ole) Oleson. They were married on July 8, 1958, and were preparing to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary. Through their example, Jan and Ole taught their three children, Brenda, Art, and Tom, the value of hard work, perseverance and putting family first.

If you ever enjoyed dinner at the Kountry Manor or White Springs, it is very likely you interacted with Jan. Working tirelessly to raise her family, Jan waited tables for more than 40 years. She became known for her warm smile, strong work ethic, and genuine care for others. Jan never met a stranger and made everyone feel welcome. Her love for her profession even spilled over into playtime with her grandchildren, for whom she sewed custom waitress aprons so they could "play waitress."

Family was the heart of Jan’s life, and she thrived in the wholesome simplicity of farm life. Her home was a place where no one ever left hungry or cold. Whenever you walked through the door, you were greeted by a voice full of sunshine. Before you knew it, Jan would be bringing up another ice cream bucket full of homemade cookies from the basement freezer or whipping up a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls. Her cooking and baking were legendary—whether she was yelling “DINNER!” from the back porch for fried chicken wings, roast and dumplings, or grandpa’s favorite goulash. She truly loved it when family or friends stopped by.

Christmas at the farm was simply unforgettable. The family spent every Christmas Eve together with the windows wide open, because the wood furnace would be freshly stoked and the thermostat would be reading what felt like 100 degrees. She loved nothing more than a good laugh, famously creating a core Christmas memory when her dentures fell out during a family game, leaving everyone laughing until they were crying. The family always looked forward to Grannie’s grasshoppers made with crème de menthe. Her grandkids thought they were “getting away with” something special, just like Grandma thought she was getting away with secretly smoking by the bathroom window—a secret the whole family, including Papa, knew about. Her Christmas sugar cookies were a cherished tradition. Jan's generosity extended far beyond the holidays; she hand-quilted heavy blankets made with so much love, which were used so often that eventually only strips of fabric remained. She also used her gift of sewing to make numerous pairs of pajamas for her grandchildren. Jan’s grandchildren were the great joy of her life. They could always count on finding a stick of Juicy Fruit or Doublemint gum at the bottom of her purse (even if you had to pick a little fuzz off first).

Jan lived a life rich in simple pleasures. She enjoyed raising and bottle-feeding baby calves and watching baby ducks and chicks hatch each spring. She loved gardening and canning, and her family holds many fond memories of spending time in the garden with Grannie, whether eating berries straight off the vine or helping dig potatoes. She cherished her trips to Amish country to shop for groceries and supplies. Countless times Grannie instructed her grandson not to let Papa Ole buy any junk at a farm sale, sometimes he was successful other times, not so much. But above all, she treasured the ordinary days spent doing nothing in particular with her grandchildren. Jan’s life was a collection of beautiful memories woven together over the years—a cozy hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a reminder that her table was always full, her door was always open, and her heart always had room for one more.

She was preceded in death by her parents, August and Zala Werger; her siblings, Joyce Backes, Keith Werger, and Chuck Werger; her brothers-in-law, Royce Backes and Vincent (Butch) Dryer; and her beloved sister-in-law, Carla Werger.

She is survived by her husband, Carroll (Ole) Oleson; her three children, Brenda (Rick) Moses, Art (Melissa) Oleson, and Tom (Margie) Oleson; her sister, Jeanette Werger; her grandchildren, Jeremy (Courtney) Moses, Jill (Justin) Tangeman, Kris (Jacqueline) Oleson, Kory Oleson, Ashley (JC) Cunningham, Emily (Ryan) Windt, and T.J. (Morgan) Oleson; and 11 great-grandchildren, Mya, Micah, and Myles Moses, Charlie and Colby Tangeman, Keaton, Kinzley, Karter, and Kade Oleson, James Cunningham IV, and Reed Oleson. She leaves the world having made a lasting mark on countless lives.

Visitation will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. with the funeral directly following at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow at National Cemetery near Farmersburg, Iowa. Pastor Tyler Hoey will officiate.

Morris Funeral Home (Dyersville, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Monticello, Holy Cross) is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.