Funeral services will be held for Jan Strawn, 89, of Jefferson May 23 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson. Interment will be in the Greenbrier Township Cemetery, rural Jefferson, Greene County, IA.
Janice Roberta (Watson) Strawn was born September 15, 1936, to Fred and R. Maxine (Bryan) Watson in Jefferson. Jan was raised in Bayard. In 1954, she graduated from Bayard Community High School as salutatorian. She earned a two-year teaching degree at Iowa State Teachers’ College in Cedar Falls, (now University of Northern Iowa) and returned to her home town of Bayard.
On July 1, 1956, Jan was united in marriage to Dudley Strawn at the Greenbrier Methodist Church. To this union, four sons were born.
Beginning in the fall of 1956 through May of 1959, Jan taught reading for first through sixth grades at Bayard Community Schools. She taught second grade students at Scranton Community Schools for one year from 1959 – 1960. In the early years of her career, she took classes from Drake University to earn a four-year degree. Beginning in 1964, Jan was employed by the Jefferson Community School District where she taught second grade students. In 1998 she retired from an accomplished tenure of teaching.
Jan was an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting. With an animal-loving husband and four boys, she endured a variety of cuddly and not-so-cuddly pets.
In her retirement, she loved traveling to see her grandchildren and often served as a substitute teacher. She loved angels and gospel music, especially the Gaither Group. Above all she loved her four boys and her grandchildren.
Janice Strawn passed away May 12, 2026, at the age of 89 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dudley Strawn; sister Judith Watson Cicci; brother Carl Watson; sister-in-law Betty Strawn; and brothers-in-law Ronald Strawn and Duane Winkelman.
She is survived by her sons Steven (Kathy) Strawn of Queen Creek, AZ, Bruce (Deanna) Strawn of Katy, TX, Dr Kirk (Mary) Strawn of Phoenix, AZ, Erik (Regina) Strawn of Jefferson, and AFS son Antonio Sousa of Portugal; grandchildren Tiffany (Remi) Baker of Magnolia, TX, Nick (Lisa) Strawn, Madison (Brian) Trzeciak, and Jessica Strawn, all of Katy, TX, Emily (Kyle) Decker and Charlotte (Griffon) Bell of Phoenix, AZ, Iris Strawn of Jefferson, and AFS grandchildren Tatiana Sousa of Portugal and Gui Sousa of Scottsdale, AZ; great-grandchildren Zoe Strawn, Zac Strawn, Nelly Trzeciak, Audrey and Amelia Hebert, all of Katy, TX; AFS great-grandchild Maria Clara of Portugal; brother-in-law Robert Strawn of Carver, MN; sisters-in-law Janice Winkelman of Chaska, MN, Lois Strawn of Jefferson and Susan Watson of Gilbert; many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Memorials in Jan’s honor will be given to the Greene County Community School District Elementary School children’s library, 401 E. Russell St, Jefferson.
