Janet Lee (Jennings) O'Hair, 30 Jul 1937 - 30 Dec 2020

O’HAIR, JENNINGS, HEDGECOCK, VAN HEEKE, CROW

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/7/2021 at 12:22:36

Janet Lee (Jennings) O'Hair, 83, of Indianola, IA and Mesa, AZ passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at 9 a.m. in Des Moines, IA. She was surrounded by loving family.

Private family services were held Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, with burial following in the Indianola IOOF Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The services were Livestreamed located on her obituary page of the funeral home website overtonfunerals.com starting at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

Visitation was held 3 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 4, 2021 at Overton Funeral Home. Family will not be present for visitation. Memorials may be given to The Village Good Shepherd endowment fund in her name. To view a complete obituary or to sign an online condolence, visit our website at www.overtonfunerals.com.

Janet, daughter of Harry and Zelma (Hedgecock) Jennings, was born in her parents home on July 30, 1937 in Walnut City, IA. She attended a rural country school for kindergarten taught by her father. She graduated from Centerville High School as class secretary in 1955 and then continued her education at Centerville Community College, where she graduated Sno Ball Queen in 1957, and Drake University, graduating in 1962 earning a BS in Education.

She was united in marriage to Edward O'Hair on February 21, 1960 and they were blessed with two sons, Michael Patrick and John Robert. They had been longtime sweethearts knowing each other since 4th grade.

Janet started teaching at the age of 20 in Williamsburg, IA (1957-1959) and Indianola (1959-1986) where she made an impact on the lives of countless students. Teaching was truly her passion. Her enthusiasm, humor and genuine interest and love for people made her a special teacher. She kept in touch for over fifty years with many former students and their families. Shortly before retiring from teaching Janet got her realtor's license.

She was a member of National Education Association, Iowa State Education Association, Indianola Education Association Retired Teachers, PTA, bridge groups, a past member of the Indianola Country Club and President of Music Boosters. She enjoyed golf, boating, girl's basketball, reading, history, travel and playing games with her grandchildren.

She was kind, loving and generous, always willing to help or give or share (especially her special peanut butter fudge). She was known as the "Greeting Card Queen" sending many cards for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays and always cutting out articles to share with family and friends.

Janet was first and always devoted to her family. She was a great wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandmother. She had a great sense of pride in her family. She always encouraged reading and education. Janet was a member of the Presbyterian church. Janet and Edward have been residents of Arizona the past 23 years. They returned to Iowa in the summers to visit family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Edward O'Hair; two sons, Michael (Mary Jean) of Boulder, CO and John (Crissy) of Indianola; brother. Gary Jennings of Bettendorf, IA; brother in-law, Leonard (Linda) O'Hair of Waukee, IA; several nieces, nephews, cousins and families; five grandchildren, Lauren (Tom) Van Heeke of Detroit, MI, Jake O'Hair of Boulder, CO, Tom (Mai) O'Hair of Denver, CO, Shannon O'Hair of Eldora, IA and Allison O'Hair of Indianola.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Zelma Jennings, grandparents, nephew Jason Jennings, cousins, mother-in-law and father-in-law Lester and Ruth O'Hair, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pat and Leo Crow.

Published in The Hometown Current on January 6, 2021.