SPIRIT LAKE — Janice Mae (Rasmussen) Clark, 93, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 7, 2026, in Spirit Lake. She is remembered for her devotion to family, deep Christian faith, artistic talent, love of music and books, and a generous spirit that made room for others.
A celebration of Janice’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Epworth Hall, 15360 214th Avenue in Spirit Lake. An informal luncheon will follow the service.
Janice was born January 11, 1933, in Sioux City to Mamie and Clarence Rasmussen. The youngest of three children, she grew up on Shields Avenue alongside her sister, Arlene, and brother, Raun “Bud” Rasmussen. Her parents operated a series of neighborhood grocery stores, leaving Janice with treasured memories of childhood spent around the family businesses.
She attended Longfellow Elementary, East Junior and East High School in Sioux City. Just one week after graduating from high school, Janice went to work at Swift Packing Plant. She also briefly attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls.
Janice met John Thomas “Tom” Clark in Sergeant Bluff, and just three months later the couple married on October 14, 1954, at Morningside Lutheran Church. They spent a year in California before returning to Iowa, where they raised their five children on the same Sioux City street where Janice had grown up.
While raising her family, Janice taught art lessons and later worked as a secretary. She concluded her working career after 12 years with the Woodbury County Clerk’s office. After six decades on Shields Avenue, Janice and Tom retired to Spirit Lake in 1998.
Faith was an important part of Janice’s life. She was active at Morningside Lutheran Church, taking part in Bible studies, volunteer activities and Cursillo. Her artistic gifts were also put to work there when she created a floor-to-ceiling Noah’s Ark mural that stretched along a basement hallway.
After moving to Spirit Lake, she attended First Presbyterian Church and summer services at Epworth Hall.
Art remained one of Janice’s greatest passions. She taught and attended numerous art classes and became an accomplished painter. Janice and her daughter Cathy once operated an Iowa State Fair booth featuring farm scenes painted on old barn doors. She also created painted Santas, scenes on weathered cedar shingles and wooden Noah’s Ark puzzles.
Acrylic paint was her favorite medium for many years before she turned to watercolor, producing scenes inspired by her neighborhood and the beach at Monarch Cove.
Music and reading also filled Janice’s life. She played piano and autoharp, frequently hummed or sang, and was an avid reader. She and Tom were known to keep stacks of books beside their bed.
Above all, Janice loved her children. She devoted herself to raising them and attended countless performances, softball games, baseball games and basketball games over the years. Her home was also a welcoming place during holidays, often including college friends who were unable to return to their own families.
Janice enjoyed extensive travel during her lifetime, visiting destinations across the United States and around the world, including Chile, Peru, Spain, Canada, Norway and Denmark. Those who knew her remembered a woman who was generous, kind and attentive to how others were feeling.
Janice is survived by her children, Cathy Kelly of Spirit Lake, Linda Clark of Lawrence, Kansas, Diane (Dan) Tjaden of Sioux City, Karen Clark of Spirit Lake and Jonathan (Katherine) Clark of Sacramento, California; and six grandchildren, Jack Kelly, Kaitlyn (Dany) Licona, Ben Kelly, Camren Tjaden, Theron Clark and Genevieve Clark.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Thomas Clark; parents, Mamie and Clarence Rasmussen; sister, Arlene Sullivan; brother, Raun Rasmussen; and son-in-law, Patrick Kelly.
The family expressed special thanks to the staff of Accura HealthCare of Spirit Lake and St. Croix Hospice for the care they provided Janice.
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