Janice Peterson, age 78, of Laurens, Iowa died Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the Laurens Care Center in Laurens, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albert City. Burial will follow in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place Monday, June 29, 2015 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Janice Anne Newgard, the daughter of Allen and Doris (Miller) Newgard was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, on June 10, 1937. She lived her youth in the Sioux Rapids and Cornell vicinity graduating from the Cornell High School.

Following graduation, Janice was employed at the Simonsen Iron Works in Sioux Rapids. She later moved to Spencer, Iowa, where she worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Office.

On September 18, 1957, Janice was united in marriage to Marshall Peterson in Jackson, Minnesota. Janice and Marshall met when she was five years old and he was nine years old. The couple was blessed with four children: Becky, Jerry, Laurie, and Jeff. Following their marriage, they lived in Spencer until 1965, when they moved to Marshall’s childhood family farm near Laurens where they have resided since.

Jan was a devoted housewife and mother, helping Marshall with the farm work, and being a loving and caring mother to their children, helping them with 4-H projects, teaching them how to sew, play piano, and how to have fun while learning a good work ethic. Her family will never forget her sense of humor. Jan was a member of the Albert City softball league, and enjoyed her hobbies of reading, sewing, and baking.

She was a longtime faithful member of the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City where she taught Bible School, sang in the church choir, and served on the Alter Guild for many years.

Janice and Marshall had a true love story.

Jan’s life will always be honored, cherished, and celebrated by her family which include her husband of 57 years, Marshall Peterson of Laurens, Iowa; children: Becky (Steve) Orwig of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Jerry Peterson of Iroquois, Illinois; Laurie (Brett) Simonsen of Norfolk, Nebraska; Jeff (Ruby) Peterson of Albert City, Iowa; grandchildren: Nick (Bobbi) Heppner, Tabitha (Dallas, Jr.) Heckens, Jessica Peterson, Alecia Simonsen, Scott Simonsen, Mariah Marquardt-Orwig, and Amber Simonsen; great grandchildren: Emma Kuchar, Layne Heppner, Owen Heppner, Corbin Heckens, Averie Heppner, Eben Heckens, Wren Heppner, and “Baby” Heckens, two sisters: Delores Hogrefe of Rogers, Arkansas; and Norma (Clifford) Gerke of Newell, Iowa; other extended family and many friends.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, and one great grandchild.

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