Janet Ruth (Brooks) ALPHS

ALPHS, BROOKS, LOUDEN, SCHMIDT, HARDY, SMITH, OHDEN, COOPER, BELLARD, BUCHANAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/2/2009 at 22:56:31

Buffalo Center Tribune, Iowa
May 29, 2009

Janet Alphs, age 72, of Thompson died on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills. Funeral services for Janet were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 18 at the United Methodist Church in Thompson with Pastor Shannon Pascual officiating. Casketbearers were Adam Schmidt, Luke Schmidt, Benjamin Schmidt, Christopher Alphs, Jim Brown and Maynard Albers. Burial was at Olena Mound Cemetery in Buffalo Center. Winter Funeral Home of Thompson was in charge of arrangements.

Janet Ruth Alphs was born to Joe and Irene (Louden) Brooks on September 26, 1936 in Belmond, IA. She was raised on a pony farm and helped milk cows by hand when growing up. She enjoyed roller skating and taking care of all of the animals. She was baptized in March of 1950 in the United Methodist Church in Belmond. She graduated from high school in Belmond. On June 10, 1954, she was united in marriage to Paul Alphs at the United Methodist Church in Belmond. This union was blessed with two children: Mark and Cheryll. Paul and Janet lived and farmed north of Thompson for over 50 years.

Janet was a member of the Birthday Club, United Methodist Church Ladies Aide and Circle and the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. She enjoyed sewing, woodworking, gardening, reading, and walking. She also enjoyed making crafts which she lovingly gave to family and friends. No one ever left her house empty-handed, there was always some homemade gift for them! She also had a love for animals especially horses. Janet enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Paul of Thompson; son Mark and wife, Tami, of Lake Mills; daughter Cheryll Schmidt and husband, Roger, of Mankato, MN; grandchildren: Adam and wife Stef, Benjamin and wife Jenny, and Luke Schmidt; and Christopher Alphs; great-grandchildren: Lauren and Elizabeth Schmidt; sister Jean Hardy of Mound, MN; brother Richard Brooks and wife, Elaine, of Belmond; sister Ellen Smith of Clear Lake; and brother Ron Brooks and wife, Jeannie, of Rowan; nieces; nephews; and cousins. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, sister Billie Ohden, sister-in-law Evelyn Cooper, and brothers-in-law: Tom Hardy, Arthur Smith, Joe Smith, Stanley Bellard, Gene Cooper, and Ted Buchanan.