Jan Spath (1937-2021)

SPATH, ONSTOTT, COOK

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/29/2021 at 13:14:19

JAN CAROLYN SPATH

Mechanicsville

Jan Carolyn Spath, 84, of Mechanicsville, passed away on Dec. 24, 2021, at UnityPoint-St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. There will be a celebration of Jan's life at a later date. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Mechanicsville.

Jan was born Dec. 21, 1937, in Iowa City, Iowa, to John Irving and Bertha Mae (Onstott) Cook. She married Richard "Dick" Spath on Oct. 4, 1958, in Chicago at the Fullerton Covenant Presbyterian Church. Richard passed away on April 5, 2013.

Survivors include a son, John of Austin, Texas; daughter, Nancy (Rob) Davis of Stockton, Calif.; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and niece, Colette Cook of Cedar Rapids.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; sister, Geraldine "Jeri" Kavanaugh; and brother, James "Jim" Cook.

At a young age Jan displayed artistic and musical talents that were encouraged at home and at school. She graduated from Mechanicsville Consolidated schools in 1955 and then went on to attend the American Academy of Art in Chicago, followed by Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., where she graduated with an A.A. degree in fashion design in 1957. Jan worked in various capacities related to the fashion design industry holding jobs in clothing design, newspaper art and fashion illustrating. Jan was active in many choirs, chorus' and took particular pleasure in singing with a Sweet Adenines group in Oregon. While in Texas, Jan participated as an amateur ice skater with the "Icebreakers" drill team, which won National Championships in 1984 and 1985. Jan enjoyed movies, cooking, music, reading, drawing, sewing, crafts and had a particular soft spot in her heart for cats. She valued the friendship of a special group of high school friends and regularly shared emails with this group for many years.

Because of Dick's job, the family called many parts of the country home including, Tennessee, Maryland, California and Texas. Upon Dicks retirement in 1986, they made their home on the central Oregon coast near Depoe Bay. Jan returned to Mechanicsville in 2014, where she became an active member of the Mechanicsville Garden club and the local chapter of The Red Hats Society.

Jan will be remembered for her stylish dress, art and music talents and her gourmet cooking.

Chapman Funeral Home has Jan and her family in their care. Memories and condolences may be left at www.chapmanfh.com.