Janet L. Poe

July 12, 1937 - November 10, 2017

Janet L. Poe, 80, of rural New Sharon, died Friday, November 10, 2017, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. She was born July 12, 1937, at Deep River, Iowa, the daughter of Omer and Emily Seibert Andeway. She attended Brush College Country School in rural Mahaska County. Janet went on to graduate from Lacey High School as the Valedictorian of her class in 1955. On December 3, 1955, she was united in marriage to Ray Poe in Oskaloosa; Ray died on June 30, 2007. Following her marriage to Ray, Janet went to work at Green Ford in Oskaloosa as a secretary. As her family started to grow, Janet decided to stay home and care for her children and home. She also helped Ray on the farm. In 1978, she started working as a clerk for the United States Post Office in Rose Hill. In 1981, she became the Postmaster of the Rose Hill Post office, a position she held until her retirement in 2012. She was an active member of Central Reformed Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School in Oskaloosa, Ruritan Club (now Rose Hill Boosters) in Rose Hill where she held several offices, and the Busy Homemakers neighborhood club. She also volunteered many hours at Share Iowa. Janet was also very involved with 4-H as a member of the Monroe Busy Bee’s 4-H Club. She served as leader of the Diamond Shelter 4-H Club and A & M Merry Maids 4-H Club in Mahaska County. She enjoyed doing genealogy, sewing, quilting, stitching, stamp collecting and loved to read. Janet also looked forward to attending the State Fair and County Fair every year. She delighted in spending time with her family and friends. Her family includes her three children, Greg (Janet) Poe of Blakesburg, Iowa, Sharon Hall (Mark Bishop) of Kirkville, Iowa, and David (Carla) Poe of Hedrick; eighteen grandchildren, Jeremy (Jessica) Poe, Diane (Poe) Hunt, Dennis Hall (Jodi Bixby), April (Shaun) Spruell, Brad Hall (Sara Wymore), Barbara Hanson, Brenda (Jason) Irwin, Stacy (Andy) Duhn, Kurt (Jessica) Breon, and Kati (Kevin) Bradshaw; twenty six great grandchildren, Sierah, Britt, Tiara, Bailey, Justine, Skylar, Addysen, Drake, Joey, Jace, Gage, Evan, Ava, Isaiah, John, Kyle, Keaton, Kaylie, Alaina, Landon, Jonah, Asher, Nora, Connor, Wyatt and Abigail; a brother, Lee (Diane) Andeway of Oskaloosa; three sisters, Joyce Danley of Silvis, Illinois, Joan (Wayne) Mednick of Georgetown, Texas, and Jeri Norris of Woodlands, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to her husband Ray, Janet was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother in law, Pat Danley. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 10:30 am in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Jon Nelson officiating. Burial will be in the Wymore Cemetery northeast of Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Monday, November 13, 2017 after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to Rose Hill Boosters or MHP Hospice Serenity House.