Janice L. Klein, 79, of Le Mars, IA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 23, 2018 at All Saints Catholic Parish, St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Father Bruce Lawler and Deacon Rick Roder will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at St. Joseph Church. There will be a Rosary at 5:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Monday.
Janice Lee Roder was born November 29, 1938 in Remsen, IA to Alphonse and Sylvia (Klein) Roder. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Remsen and joined the Franciscan religious community in Dubuque, IA and was with them from 1956 to 1978. Jan studied at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA and the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA., attaining a Master’s Degree in Music. For about 20 years, Jan taught music at St. Joseph in Bode, IA, Holy Ghost, Holy Trinity, Holy Ghost School, Trinity School and other schools in Dubuque. After leaving the Franciscan community, she taught violin and piano in Iowa City, IA.
On September 29, 1984, Jan and Merlyn Klein were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen. The couple lived in Le Mars where Jan continued to teach violin and piano and worked as a liturgist at St. Joseph Church. After being diagnosed with melanoma cancer in 2009, she retired from teaching private music lessons but continued what she was able to do at the church.
She was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish-St. Joseph Church and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Jan enjoyed playing piano and violin, praying, reading, visiting with people and crossword puzzles.
Jan will be lovingly remembered by her 9 step children; Diane Prieksat of Sioux City; Tim (Crystal) Klein of Kansas City, MO; Carmie (Gary) Bosch of Sioux Falls, SD; Dan (Karen) Klein of Phoenix, AZ; Ron (Heike) Klein of Gardner, KS; Julie Kounkel of Jasper, MN; Steve (Bonnie) Klein of Ankeny, IA; Tom (Mindy) Klein of Parkville, MO; and Amy Schumacher of St. George, UT; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, Gerald (Clarice) Roder of Granville, IA; Dick (Mary) Roder of Remsen, IA; Paul (Betty) Roder of Lee's Summit, MO; sister, Karen (Denny Schemmel) of Overland Park, KS; sisters-in-law, Helen Roder of Baldwin, MO; Verna Bunkers of Remsen, Iowa; brother-in-law, Jim Klein of Granville, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.
Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Merlyn; her parents; a brother, Jim Roder; a sister-in-law, Lois Wiltgen, a sister-in-law, Angie Klein, a step grandson, Ryan Klein and a step son-in-law, Dave Kounkel.
Memorials may be made to All Saints Catholic Parish building fund or to the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque.
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