Services will be held Oct. 29, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson for Janice Kay Badger, 77, of Bagley.
Words of comfort will be offered by The Rev Heather Dorr, pastor of the church. Soloist will be Gary Haupert, accompanied by Sheryl Sloan. Honorary bearers will be Joe McCullough and Gary Hoffman.
Casket bearers will be Rodney Frederick, Gene Weaver, Doug Lawton, Larry Booth, Scott Weaver and Steve Schnebly. Interment will be at Greenbrier Township Cemetery near Bagley.
Janice Kay (Sigler) Badger was born August 29, 1944, in Carroll County, the daughter of Clifton Dale Sigler and Lula Mae (Fick) Sigler. Janice grew up in Coon Rapids and was a member of the Coon Rapids Methodist Church and MYF (youth group). She attended Coon Rapids Public School, graduating in May 1962. During her school years, she participated in the concert band and marching band, and sang in mixed chorus and girls’ glee club. She was part of the school newspaper staff, and a member of Future Homemakers of America. She was a class officer during her sophomore and junior years. She also was a member of Rainbow high school leadership service organization. Following high school, Janice worked for Garst and Thomas Seed Corn Company in the bookkeeping department.
On May 3, 1963, Janice was united in marriage to Donald M. Badger in Coon Rapids. They lived in Maryville, MO, while Don finished college. In January 1965, they moved back to the farm in Greene County, where Don helped his father with the farming operation.
Janice and Don became the parents of two boys, Bradley Scott and Brent Don. Janice was a stay-at-home mom. She was a “city girl” who turned into a “farm girl”. She capably took care of livestock and helped with all the aspects of crop farming. She really loved living in the country.
When son Brent returned to the farm in 1990 after his college years, Janice took a job with the Coon Rapids school system, managing after-school day care for grade school children. In the fall of 1992, Janice became employed with Jefferson-Scranton High School as an associate, working in the learning center helping students who needed extra help with classwork and assignment completion. She loved working with her students.
In 2010, Janice retired after 18 years at Jefferson Scranton High School, yet continued doing some substituting for a few more years. Eventually she retired from substituting to spend more time with grandchildren. Her grandchildren were the love of her life. She went to all their activities, when possible.
Janice was an avid reader and enjoyed working around home, in her flower beds and feeding the birds. Many times she helped run errands for the farming operation. She was always ready to help someone, if she could.
Janice was active in the Greenbrier Methodist Church, WSCS group, and other church activities. She was a girls 4-H Club leader and served on Greene County Extension Council and ISU Extension Services Home Economics committee.
Janice Badger died at her home on October 22, 2021, after a five-year battle with cancer. She was 77 years of age. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Maurice Dale Sigler, who died at birth.
Janice is survived by her husband Don Badger of Bagley; sons Bradley (David W. Hardy) Badger of Lawrence, KS, and Brent (Jen) Badger of Bagley; grandchildren Kami (Jack Hawkins) Badger, Abby Badger, Brock (Lexi Miller) Badger and Elise Badger; sisters Joyce (John) Badger of Des Moines, and Jane Waldo of Jefferson; other relatives and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the Jefferson Public Library or the Greene County 4-H Foundation, and may be given to the family or left at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson.
