Janis Lucille Meier

Janis, 89 passed away at Fieldstone of DeWitt on Monday December 22,2025.

Janis was born in Bellevue, Iowa the daughter of Harold and Bernice (Penshorn) Gottleaber on March 21, 1936. Her family later moved to Monticello, Iowa where she graduated in 1954 from Monticello High School. Janis attended college at the Iowa State Teacher’s College, now known as the University of Northern Iowa, for two years earning a teaching credential. She taught in various Iowa towns including Monticello, Wyoming, Marion, and DeWitt. While raising three kids and teaching part time, Janis went back to school to earn her four- year teaching degree at Marycrest College in Davenport. This was something she was very proud of achieving. She loved teaching and watching the children as they progressed through school. She once commented “I liked watching who the students became and knowing that I had some part of their education.”

Janis married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Meier in 1958, and they eventually settled in Wheatland and then DeWitt while raising two sons and a daughter. Janis and Ray enjoyed their retirement years living most of the year in DeWitt and the winters in Arizona. They spent 62 years together before Ray passed in 2020.

In her later years, Janis struggled with health issues and spent the final 3 years in the care of Fieldstone of DeWitt. She is survived by her children Kurt (Sheri) of DeWitt, Karmen (Ev) of Port Townsend, WA, and Marvin of Cedar Rapids, 9 grandchildren, Cody (Mathew) Bunting, Maxwell (Emily) and Samuel Meier, Olivia (Tyler) Fisher, Madison (Carson) Parker, Kendal (Stephan) Sauder, Kenneth (Kate) Waechter, Jessica Hutchison, Guthrie (Ashley) Waechter, and 9 great grandchildren.

Janis is preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond, brother Harold Gottleaber and sister and brother-in law Janaan and Delbert Husmann.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 on Tuesday December 30, 2025, at the United Church of Christ in DeWitt Iowa. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 until 11:00 prior to the memorial service. Following a light luncheon at the church, a family graveside burial will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery in Monticello, Iowa. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello has taken Janis and her family into their care. Thoughts, Memories and Condolences may be left at Goettschonline.com.

The family would like to thank the nurses and CNA’s at Fieldstone of DeWitt for the love and care they provided while Jan was a resident there. In remembrance of Janis, contributions can be made to The Central DeWitt Education Foundation or to the DeWitt United Church of Christ. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Goettsch’s Funeral home in Monticello and obituary can be found at goettschonline.com