Janice Haus age 84 of Nashua, IA, died Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, IA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Nashua with Father Tom Heathershaw presiding. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Church Cemetery in Nashua with Joshua Jones, Jacob Jones, Jared Jones, Alex Haus, Jennifer Haus, Carly Mehmen, Kelly Mehmen, and Cathy Hoggins serving as pallbearers.
Friends may greet the family, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 28th at the Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory – Olson Chapel in Nashua. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.
Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory – Olson Chapel in Nashua has been entrusted with arrangements.
Janice was born March 22, 1939, on a farm near Basset, Iowa, to Roger and Dorothy (Lambert) Burnett. She was the oldest of four children, Sylvia, Dennis, and Wilda. Janice played women’s three-on-three basketball and softball. She graduated Class of 1957, salutatorian, Ionia H.S.
Janice began work at Frank Kraft Motors, which she loved, until she met Jimmy Haus, the love of her life, at the outdoor movies in Ionia. On August 22, 1959, the young couple were wed in New Hampton, Iowa at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Jackie was born the following year. They packed up their lives, and their first born, and moved to Los Angeles, on the recommendation of Jim’s Navy buddies. While in California, they welcomed three more children: Julie, Joe, and Jill.
California was a wonderful adventure for the growing family, but Jim and Janice missed their relatives in Iowa, and moved back in 1969. When Jim worked at the Nashua school, Janice began, what would turn out to be, 25 years as a school bus driver. Among her many jobs, she was Harrison Plumbing bookkeeper, Club Iowa restaurant salad manager, YMCA receptionist and Chickasaw County election poll chair.
Janice was an integral member of her community. She belonged to the St. Bernadette Lady’s Guild at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, as well as serving as a catechism teacher, and choir member. She was a Brownie scout-leader, and a member of the Nashua volunteer ambulance crew.
She adored her sweet four-legged children-trapped-in-dog’s-bodies, who each kept her company on different legs of her journey through life: Gizmo her most recent ❤️.
Jim and Janice had a shared love of Bluegrass music, and camping, taking the family on many adventures, over the years. They rode motorcycles, snowmobiles, went boating, and belonged to the CB Club. Janice was an avid collector, passionate about searching for hidden treasures at garage sales and flea-markets, and would never pass up an Amish novel, a bolt of fabric, or “free” box. Because of her skilled collecting, and love of helping others, if anyone needed something, Janice could be counted on to have one (or three).
They loved to travel in their various motorhomes, which became even more important after their children had grown and begun to move away to start their own families. Jim and Janice drove thousands of miles visiting their children and grandchildren.
Janice was an incredible cook. Although she is most famous for her legendary potato salad, she had an entire repertoire of dishes that were requested, if not demanded, by her children, grandchildren, and friends. She would often multi-task by socializing while she cooked. The delicious smells, paired with her contagious laughter, was a combination made in heaven.
Whether it was traveling in a 1956 Chevy or a Cadillac to visit family in Iowa, lugging along all the supplies to fulfill the crafting ambitions of her grandchildren, or staying up late for one more card game, Janice made it very clear, her ultimate love was spending time with grandchildren, family, and their multitude of friends.
Janice is survived by her husband Jim, of nearly 65 years; her children: Jackie (John), Julie, Joe (Sue), and Jill (Tim); and her grandchildren: Cathy, Andy, Carly, Kelly, Jenny, Alex, Josh, Jake, and Jared; her great-grandchildren: Noah, and Crew (on the way); her siblings: Dennis (Diane), Wilda (Charlie); and her multitude of nieces and nephews and cousins.
Janice is preceded in death by parents Roger and Dorothy, in-laws Leo and Elsie , sister-in-law Linda, sister Sylvia, and brother-in-law Gordon. Special thanks to neighbors of 50 yrs, Danny & Patty Bilharz, Dr. David Schrodt, and the Community for their support in so many ways.
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