Janice Marie (Welty) BLOCK

WELTY, BLOCK, BALMER, DEGROOT, STEINER, KOHLER, DICKMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:42

February 20, 1927 ---- October 9, 2018

Janice Marie Block of Thompson, Iowa, died Tuesday, October 9th, 2018. Janice was born on a farm in Pandora, Ohio, on February 20, 1927 to the parents of Daniel Lee Welty and Faery Manilla Welty (Balmer). She graduated from Pandora High School as Valedictorian of her class. She completed a Bachelor's Degree in Biology at Bluffton College in Ohio where she was also awarded the honor of May Queen. She was active in music and drama during her high school and college years.

She taught Hopi and Navajo children in Arizona for a summer following graduation, and then moved to Renwick, Iowa, to teach high school. During her time in Renwick she met Carroll Block, and they were married June 14, 1952 in Pandora, Ohio. They lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the first year of marriage where Carroll completed dental residency and she continued to teach. They moved to Thompson, Iowa, where they made their home until 2013 and moved to Deerfield Assisted Living Place in Sheffield, Iowa. They celebrated 65 years of marriage during 2017. Jan was a member of St. John Mennonite Church in Ohio and later joined Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson.

Jan was active in her community with service on the Thompson Study Club, Birthday Club, Cub Scouts, Rescue Unit, Music Mothers, Quilt Club, Bridge Clubs, women's ministries, church choir and other church ministries. She was instrumental in park beautification efforts in the Thompson City Park and grant writing to bring a swimming pool to town. She enjoyed baking, playing cards, quilting, painting, sewing, gardening, socializing, time with family and serving the community. She especially enjoyed hosting international students, visits with grandchildren and great grandchildren, traveling, and spending time on their farm.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll; her parents; son, Jamie; and brothers, Gary, Art, Frank, Evan, Tom; and sisters, Elaine and Sandra. She is survived by one brother, Wes (Jean) Welty; sister-in-law, Bonnie Welty; daughter, Laurie (Rick) DeGroot; son, Dan (Laura) Block; sister-in-law, Eva Steiner; brother-in-law, Dr. Kenneth Block; grandchildren: David, Thomas, and AnnaMarie Block, Andrea (Rick) Kohler, and Janna (Charlie) Dickman; great-grandchildren: Preslee, Max, and Fynlee Dickman, Isla, Kaia and Autumn Kohler; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service organized by Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, Thompson on Sunday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation will be held at the church before the service starting at 1:00 p.m. The family thanks many friends, family, Bethany Lutheran Church, and staff at Sheffield Care Center/Deerfield Assisted Living Place for their support and care. Memorial donations will be shared with the community and church.

Mason City Globe Gazette --- Mason City, Iowa
October 11, 2018