Janice Moore

Janice Jane Moore, 88, of Moravia, Iowa passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at the English Valley Care Center surrounded by her family. Janice was a loving daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She now rests peacefully in the hands of the Lord and will be deeply missed. She was born on January 23, 1936 in Blakesburg, Iowa to Theodore and Elsie Mae (Ruttan) Henderson. Janice married the love of her life and beloved husband, Virgil (Bill) Moore, on August 22, 1953, and they were married for 71 happy and humorous years.

Janice was known for her love of God and family and support for community. As a member of the Iconium Methodist Church, she lent a hand (and pies) for many church dinners, soup suppers and sales. Janice spent many hours supporting the Moravia School District through her sewing skills (swing choir wardrobes and wrestling banners), driving her children to all manner of practices, and waiting for those practices to be over.

Janice loved collecting antique and vintage tea pots, Leo Ward Bluebirds, and cookbooks. In recent years, she always had her iPad in hand to stay connected with friends, family and her games. Another interest of Janice’s was watching the Iowa Hawkeye games, with the women’s basketball games being highest on her list.

Janice loved animals, especially her cats, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loved baking and her dinner rolls were the heart of every family gathering. They were the perfect blend of skill and love, and though no one in the family ever quite mastered them, they’ll forever be a symbol of the care and warmth she brought to her family.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Moore; four children, Doug Moore of Oskaloosa, Suzanne (Joesph) Strano of Davenport, Julia (Christopher) Parrish of Williamsburg, and James (Neena) Moore of Denver, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Shane Moore, Lauren Parrish, Molly Parrish, Nellie (Charles) Yoder, Jayesh Moore, Jaden Moore, and Jaena Moore; one great-grandchild Lincoln. Janice is also survived by her brothers Ted Henderson and Ronald Henderson and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Elsie Henderson; her parents-in-law, Elbert and Vera (Callen) Moore; her brothers-in-law, Charlie Turner, DeWayne Moore, and Pearl Hiner; and her sisters-in-law, Joanne Turner, Patty Henderson, Mary Alice Henderson, Mildred Hiner, and Mabel Moore.

Janice was a beacon of kindness and love, will forever reside in our hearts.

A joint funeral service with her husband, Bill, who passed four days later, will held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia with Pastor Richard Grimes officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia, opening to the public at 3:00 p.m., with family present from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow services in Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia. Memorials may directed to the Iconium Methodist Church, Essence of Hospice of Amana, Eastern Iowa Honor Flight.

Bill and Janice ~ American Love Story
Bill and Janice met when Janice was still in high school, she was a cheerleader for Blakesburg High School and Bill went to watch a basketball game. They were married on 22 August 1953 when Janice was just seventeen and Bill was twenty one, but as Janice was fond of telling her kids, she had graduated and had a full time job (although Janice did have to get permission from her parents because she was so young). Bill was drafted not long after their wedding and they moved to Ft Smith Arkansas. When Bill left for Japan, Janice moved back to Iowa to stay with her parents until Bill returned. They settled down in a tiny house in Iconium, Iowa and Bill began farming with his brother DeWayne and his dad Elbert. The time Bill spent overseas was really the only time they were separated in 71 years of marriage.
Throughout the years, they did many things together (or often, at the same time). For example, after Janice broke her arm, Bill broke his arm just a week later - perhaps out of sympathy (but really from slipping on ice). Years later, they would both end up in the hospital with pneumonia just across the hall from each other. They had his and her mowers and enjoyed mowing the yard at the same time. They spent many hours gardening and debating the presence of farm cats in the house. They also canned veggies, ate ice cream, watched Hawkeye sports, traveled, and enjoyed life on the farm. They routinely picked on each other, with Bill being the instigator most days.
It is fitting that, after 71 years of marriage, Bill and Janice decided to see each other again after only four days of separation.