Janet Spellerberg
February 13, 1940 ~ May 23, 2016
Bill, Cindy, and Dave said, 'It's time to park the car.' Janet Helen Spellerberg, 76, of Mount Vernon, passed away Monday, May 23, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, of complications from a stroke suffered on Friday. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 27, 2016, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mount Vernon, by Reverend John R. Flaherty. Visitation: 4-7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the church with a vigil service at 7:30. Burial: Campbell Cemetery, Bertram.
Survivors include her sons, Bill Jr., Pat, and Dan Spellerberg; sisters, Emily Harney, Lois (Larry) Hawkins, Rose (Dale) Metz Kraus, Maxine (Jim) Surratt, and Pauline (Robert) Van Every; brothers, Bernard and John (Mary) Gilroy; 'fifth' son, Jamie (Jenny) Hampton; brothers-in-law, Bob and Matt Spellerberg; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Schulte, Jane Spellerberg, and Arlene Spellerberg; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.
Janet was born February 13, 1940, in Iowa City to Paul and Dorothy (Waldschmidt) Gilroy. She attended St. Mary's School in Riverside, Iowa, graduating in 1958. Janet married William 'Bill' Spellerberg on April 17, 1963, at St. Mary's Church in Riverside. She was a dedicated farmer's wife, and a devoted mother to her five children, Cynthia, Bill Jr., Pat, David, and Dan. Janet was also a bank teller for many years, most recently, Farmer's State Bank, retiring in 2014.
Janet's faith was very important to her. She was an active member of St. John the Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, volunteering and participating in bible study. She was a member of the CEW community in Riverside and an active volunteer for the Knights of Columbus #5677. Janet lived a full life playing cards, bingo, and going to the casino. She loved flowers, collecting salt and pepper shakers and angels. Janet was a storyteller and left a lasting impression and smile with her "listeners".
Janet was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; daughter, Cynthia; son, David; and several brothers- and a sister-in-law.
A memorial fund has been established in the Spellerberg name.
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Bill, Pat and Dan,
I’m just sick, sick. I can’t believe your Mom isn’t with us any longer. I just had lunch with her and she was so happy, she had just won at Bingo three times that week. Janet and I always had so much fun, shared secrets and laughed a lot. She was one of a kind and so thoughtful, always thinking of someone else….the only good thing about this is she is with Bill, David and “her Cindy”. I know we will all join her someday.
Janet, I miss you already and love you.
Boys, if I can do anything to help ease your heartache, please stop by.
My love and sympathy to you all,
Annamae
I am so sorry to hear about Janet’s passing. Janet was a wonderful person & so much fun to work with!. She was my trainer at Farmers State Bank over 15 years ago so I have some great memories of Janet! I loved listening to her stories & when she talked about her family. She will be greatly missed by many!
BILL, PAT AND DAN I AM SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR MOM. WE HAD A FEW GOOD LAUGHS WHEN DOUG AND DAVID WERE IN SCHOOL. HER SMILE WAS SO CONTAGIOUS. MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU ALWAYS. MARSHA HEIMS
I have missed this wonderful lady since the day she left FSB. My thoughts and prayer are with her family and friends! She was a joy to work with and will be greatly missed in this world but I know she has some wonderful people waiting to greet her on the other side.
We were heartbroken to hear of Janets passing ~ altho knowing how real her love for God was, I am happy for the SWEET reunion she is having with Cindy, Bill and her son! We grew up “across the way” from the Spellerberg family – were in 4H together – and I recall even sharing a “party line”. How thrilled we were to run into her at FSB, and get a chance to visit every other friday. Janet was very dear to both my husband and I – you couldn’t help but love her. She will be greatly missed. Our sympathys to your family. Jerry & Robin Squires (Allard)
I learned how to shuffle cards because of Janet, not necessarily from her but definitely because of her. She taught me how, but the most important thing was to do it fast – there were cards to play!!
I also fondly remember visiting Janet and Bill on the farm. The pig pen was my favorite place!!
Jacob
A few random memories of Janet
—-While visiting the farm when I was really young, Cindy and Janet put together a garbage bag full of hand me down clothes for me to take home. It was like getting a whole new wardrobe and I thought I was in Heaven! I’d never before gotten so many clothes all at once. I wore those hand me downs forever!
—I remember taking our dog, Boomer, to my parents’ house and Janet getting out of the car, screaming at the top of her lungs to my toddler, Joseph, “GET THAT ELEPHANT OUT OF MY WAY!!!”. Joseph was scared to death, until he realized that she was joking and “that elephant” soon became a term of endearment.
—My final thought was not so long ago when Janet came to my house for a bridal shower. She waited until all the guests had left, then went to her car and brought two wrapped gifts in for me. They were cookie jars that she had purchased for me. She said that when she saw them, she knew they were meant for me. How thoughtful is that?
Love you forever! Terri
Although I haven’t known Janet very long, we were able to connect (along with Maxine and Pauline) at a CEW in Riverside, Iowa, in February. I remember Janet and Bill from our younger days when we went to dances at Swisher. She and Bill wereTHE BEST dancers… My sympathies to the entire family on this sudden loss of a very special lady.