Janet Fessler, 82, of Perry passed away Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at the Rowley Masonic Community in Perry, Iowa.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Oct. 6 at 10:30 a.m. at the Rippey United Methodist Church in Rippey, with visitation starting at 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry.
Memorials will be given to Rippey United Methodist Church and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care. Online condolences may be sent at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Janet Kay Fessler, daughter of Paul Holmes and Ferne States Holmes, was born on July 14, 1936, in her parent’s farmhouse northeast of Rippey, Iowa. She lived in the same farmhouse until her marriage.
Janet was a tom boy, much preferring ball, bicycles and skating over dolls.
She was an accomplished musician, playing the baritone hornn and she especially loved playing basketball.
On Dec. 18, 1954, she was united in marriage with Jerald Lee Fessler at the Rippey United Methodist Church. They were later blessed with three children: Brenda, Clark and Bryan.
Janet and Jerald lived in several trailer parks in Des Plaines, Ill., and Belvidere, Ill., where Jerald worked as a telegrapher for several railroads.
They returned to the Fessler family farm in Iowa in 1959.
Janet was a homemaker and kept busy with the numerous activities of the children as they grew up. She was a skilled seamstress, a great cook and enjoyed music, spending time with her family and friends, golfing, six-on-six girls basketball, traveling and other needlecrafts.
Janet also enjoyed keeping family history records. She frequently corresponded with numerous family and friends far and wide through letters and sent greeting cards for many occasions.
Janet is survived by a daughter, Brenda (Russ) Dobson of Elkhart, Iowa; two sons, Clark (Lisa) Fessler of Perry and Bryan (Debbie) Fessler of Muscatine, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Brittany (Michael) Jungck, Nathan (Jamie) Dobson, Casey Fessler-Marshek, Jared Fessler, Jill (Seth) Godby, Jenna (Zack) Richards and Taylor Cullum; eight great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Silas and Moses Jungck, Jayden Cullum, Olivia Marshek, Aria Dobson, Daisy Godby and Violet Fessler; two sisters, Marilyn John of Ankeny and Cheryl Gardiner of Newton; one sister-in-law, Mary Jane McDowell of Copperas Cove, Texas; along with other family and friends.
Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Jerald; her parents, Paul and Ferne; brother-in-laws, Leonard McDowell and Ivan John; daughter-in-law, Ellen Fessler; and her father- and mother-in-law, Clark and Georgiana Fessler.
