Janis E. Colwell - Adel

Janis Ellen Colwell of Adel passed away peacefully at home on January 15th, 2015 after a valiant 2-year fight against colon cancer. While her passing leaves a void in the hearts of the friends and family she leaves behind, Janis's courage will always be remembered as she faced cancer without fear from the moment she was diagnosed. "Play the hand you're dealt!" was her motto...words that brought comfort to her friends and family through the course of this journey. Janis fought bravely, truly playing the hand she was dealt without complaint or bitterness until she entered the warm embrace of God and His Heavenly kingdom. Janis was born and raised in Clinton, IA, the daughter of Hank and Harriet Faur. She was Class of '65 at Clinton High School. Upon graduation she moved on to Iowa City and the University of Iowa to become an English teacher. She was on campus only a month when she was introduced to an upper-classman named Gary Colwell. She never stood a chance after that, they were married the summer of 1968. She received her BA Degree in English in 1969 and taught for one year in Durant while her husband finished dental school. After two years in the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, the couple and their young son moved to Adel in 1972 where they have lived ever since. Janis touched many lives during her 67 years with us. She was passionate about education, serving as a junior high English Teacher for 22 years at ADM Middle School, retiring in 2007. Janis was a devoted wife and mother to the men in her life...Gary, Chris, and Jeff. She was the glue that held the family together and instilled the value and importance of family that has been passed on to her sons. Like clockwork, she made breakfast for her 2 sons every school morning at 7:00am from kindergarten to graduation. Janis had many interests. She was a voracious reader and loved visiting libraries, bookstores, anywhere a book could be found. Janis loved her ladies bridge clubs and couples dinner club. She loved the Hawkeyes, and was always able to bring her Iowa super-fan husband back from the edge when the ball didn't roll Iowa's way. She was very active with her church, Grace Lutheran. The community of Adel was important to her too, she worked many elections as a voting official, was a Cub Scout den mother, a cheerleading coach at ADM Middle School, was a member of PEO, and served on the library board for many years. Janis is survived by her husband of 46 years, Gary Colwell; two children, Chris (Kerry) Colwell of West Des Moines, Jeff (Emily) Colwell of Waukee, IA; four beloved grandchildren...Jackson, Hayden, Jessica and Mallory. Janis was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Harriet Faur; and one brother, Jim Faur. Friends may call after 3:00 PM Monday, January 19 at Grace Lutheran Church where family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, January 20 at Grace Lutheran Church in Adel with burial at Oakdale Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, to be used by the Altar Guild or the Adel Public Library, to be used for young adult fiction. Online condolences can be left on this site. Service: 10:00 A.M. Tuesday January 20, 2015 Grace Lutheran Church Adel, Iowa Visitation: Friends may call after 3:00 P.M. Monday Family will greet friends from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M Grace Lutheran Church Adel, Iowa