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Janice McClellan Johnson Focht

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Birth	:	6 May 1922 Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA
Death	:	28 Sep 2019 Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.9389000, -94.9747009
Description	:	Janice McClellan Johnson Focht was born May 6, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri to Leland and Doretha (McClellan) Johnson. As a child during the depression, her family moved often staying with grandparents in both Iowa and Missouri while her dad, a newspaper editor, found work wherever he could. By her junior high and high school years, they'd settled in Louisville, Kentucky. After high school, she attended University of Louisville. When her brother enlisted, Janice dropped out of college to do her part working for the war effort by inspecting electrical connections in airplane wings at a... Read More	Janice McClellan Johnson Focht was born May 6, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri to Leland and Doretha (McClellan) Johnson. As a child during the depression, her family moved often staying with grandparents in both Iowa and Missouri while her dad, a newspaper editor, found work wherever he could. By her junior high and high school years, they'd settled in Louisville, Kentucky. After high school, she attended University of Louisville. When her brother enlisted, Janice dropped out of college to do her part working for the war effort by inspecting electrical connections in airplane wings at a local airplane manufacturing plant. She finished college at Iowa State University with a degree in Home Economics. During her first year of teaching at Villisca High School, she was introduced to Tom Focht by his uncle Lester Focht, the school custodian. In her words, it was “love at first sight.” They were married July 27, 1947. Five children were born to this union, Marjorie, Nancy, Kathy, Mary and James. For years they lived on the family farm west of Villisca raising crops, cattle and pigs, as well as a huge garden. Janice taught Sunday school, was a 4H group leader and an active PEO member, and prepared huge meals for corn shelling and harvesting crews. She returned to teaching after her children were in school starting as a 6th grade teacher at Nodaway and then spending her last years teaching 4th grade at the Enarson building. In addition to her work and family life, she was actively involved in Progress Club, the Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, P.E.O. and eventually the Villisca retired teachers group. In 1982 Janice and Tom moved into Villisca. Janice was an amazing mom who encouraged her children to always do their best at whatever they attempted. “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well” was the often repeated phrase. She exemplified that as she managed five children, a huge garden and going back to school in her early 40s in order to get her second degree to teach at the elementary level. She valued education, friendships, reading, music, her faith, family, independent thought, and holding her tongue. “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” was another mantra. Attitude was also high on her list with another winning phrase, “go to your room and don’t come down until you have a smile on your face”. Janice passed away on September 28th, having spent the last 10 years of her life as a resident of the Good Samaritan in Villisca where staff delighted in her smile as the dementia robbed her memory but not her attitude. Janice was proceeded in death by her husband, Tom Focht; her daughter, Mary Focht; her parents and three brothers; two brother-in-laws, William Focht and William Walford; and two sister-in-laws, Marie Focht and Sandra Focht, and a nephew, William TR Walford. Surviving Janice are daughters, Marj Thimmesch (Wendell) of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Nancy Erickson (Paul) of Friendsville, Tennessee, Kathy Focht of Williamsburg, Iowa, James Focht (Carol) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; grandsons Ivan Erickson of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Peter Erickson and wife Jamie Blankenship of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Thomas Focht of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; great grandsons, Finn Erickson of Beaverton, Oregon and Sitka Erickson of Klamath Falls, Oregon; brother-in-law, Dick Focht of Kansas City, Missouri and his children, their spouses and grandsons and sister-in-law, Nancy Walford and husband Dale Olson of York, Nebraska and her daughter and spouse and granddaughter.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Janice McClellan Johnson Focht's memorial?
Janice McClellan Johnson Focht's memorial is located at: Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA.
When did Janice McClellan Johnson Focht death?
Janice McClellan Johnson Focht death on 28 Sep 2019 in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Janice McClellan Johnson Focht's memorial?
Latitude: 40.9389000
Longitude: -94.9747009

Family Members:

Spouse

Thomas Russell Focht

(1922 - 2011)

Children

Mary Louise Focht

(1955 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Villisca Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9389000, -94.9747009

2. Carlisle Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9225006, -94.9835968

3. Findley Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9578018, -94.9571991

4. Bakers Cut Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9083200, -94.9585900

5. Arlington Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9975014, -95.0093994

6. Nodaway Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9627991, -94.8858032

7. North Page Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8857994, -95.0511017

8. Fairview Cemetery
Valley Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8570862, -94.9671860

9. Mission Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0052986, -95.0603027

10. Sciola Baptist Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0340000, -94.9859000

11. Mamre Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9865480, -95.0886400

12. Bolt Family Burying Ground
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0362750, -94.9950660

13. North Grove Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8422012, -94.9396973

14. Mamrelund Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9810486, -95.0959320

15. Methodist Grove Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9136009, -94.8332977

16. Baldwin Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9768982, -94.8244019

17. Thompson Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0527000, -94.9161000

18. Rose Hill Church Cemetery
Clarinda, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8215000, -95.0340000

19. Guss Cemetery
Guss, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8502657, -94.8510869

20. Tabor Cemetery
Wallin, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0543700, -95.0619900

21. Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery
Douglas Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8430000, -95.1044000

22. Brooks Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9728012, -94.7953033

23. Strand Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0730000, -94.9100000

24. Mortons Mill Cemetery
Morton Mills, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0793991, -95.0085983