Janet Kay McEleney of Clinton, loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, passed away Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg, IA at age 79. A visitation celebrating Janet will be held on Thursday, December 12 from 3:30-5:30PM at Pape Funeral Home, Clinton, IA. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com
Jan was born in Winner, South Dakota on June 9, 1945 the daughter of Alice Olsen and Elmer Ekberg. She graduated from Winner High School, SD and received her BA Degree from Southern State University in Springfield, SD. She married Thomas McEleney on August 23, 1975 at St. Patrick’s Church in Clinton. Jan was a history teacher at Clinton High School for 30 years, retiring in 1992. Her dedication, support and strong will extended to various volunteer opportunities. She was a proud inductee of the YWCA Women of Action, blushing recipient of the Clinton School District Gold Key Winner, enthusiastic member of the Clinton Meals on Wheels delivery service, weekend monitor and proud supporter of the Clinton Historical Society, friend and honorary associate to the Clinton Sisters of St. Francis, and the most dedicated and fierce friend.
Jan’s friendship was extremely loyal. She was very honest and everyone knew where they stood with her. She had an incredible sense of humor and loved to send postcard snippets from the Clinton Herald and the Quad City Times to unsuspecting relatives and cherished friends, often with her cursive notations and a few random stickers indicating “Someone in Clinton Loves You”. She especially loved spending time with her friends during their most difficult times and when they needed her support at Mercy Hospital and Jane Lamb. She loved everything about her home state of South Dakota including the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. Her sisters meant the world to her as well as the McEleney family members that adopted her and her creative sense of sarcasm long ago.
Jan is survived by her two children, Molly Anne McEleney of North Liberty, Iowa and Michael John McEleney (Sara) of Iowa City; three grandchildren, Adalyn, Gavin, and Mason; two sisters, Karol Jo Hendrickson of Chamberlain, South Dakota and Dorothy (Conrad) Oetter of Shelton, Washington; cherished in-laws and several close nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and her husband, Tom who passed away just this past July. Jan led a life with an abundance of purpose, service, humor, and love and she will be greatly missed by her favorites. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to the YWCA of Clinton.
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Always a warm and caring friend!!! She will be missed!!!
I’ll miss her quick wit and sarcasm!!! What a gem she was!!
I remember Ms. Ekberg from CHS when I attended high school. Ms. Ekberg was a great teacher, and I also remember her for her involvement with the YWCA. I was involved with Y-Teams and she was our advisor and present at all of our activities. She was a fun lady and really enjoyed guiding us at the Y. I’m sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss!!!!
I am sorry for your loss, I know how much your mom meant to you. And it is good to read how much she meant to others as well. Cherish those good memories.
Great teacher, cared about her students. Sorry for your loss,
I have great memories growing up and babysitting for Michael and Molly. Jan and Tom were fun loving parents to these two beautiful kiddos! Jan had a great sense of humor and always found a way to laugh. Jan worked with our Dad in the Social Studies department along with many fine teachers. Jan was very special. She loved her family especially her Molly and Michael. As years passed she loved becoming a grandma. I loved coming back to Clinton and catching up although visits were fewer and fewer after my mom passed. I will keep all of you in our prayers and thoughts at this time. She will be missed.
i got to know Janet through her sister, Karol Jo, one of my very besties. She visited South Dakota often, so I became well-versed in her sense of humor. What a blast she was!
And because of Janet, we became the proud parents of furbaby Stewart, our beloved Westie. We will miss you, Janet. Reed and Chris Sanderson
Mrs. McEleney was my history teacher for 2 years. When I was a senior in HS, I had the opportunity to not just know the teacher but the person she was. What a blast she could be. She was very special to so many. Prayers to the family
My sympathy to Michael and Molly – Jan’s “two best friends” (as she used to call them when they were young.) Jan was a great friend, co-worker and neighbor. She was a very generous person. And, Jan was fun! I am going to miss her!!!