- Date Of Birth: February 6, 1936
- Date Of Death: April 15, 2021
- State: Iowa
On April 15, 2021, Janet Eltina Myers, wife to Ernie, Mom to three, Grandma to nine and the heart and soul of our family, died peacefully at Mercy One Hospice in Johnston, IA.
Our mom was born on the Anderson Brothers’ farm in Stratford, Iowa during the blizzard of 1936. The only daughter of John and Lucille Larson, she and her older brother Erling went to country school until junior high. In 1947, her dad bought the Erickson farm where she lived until she graduated from high school in 1953. Mom was a top forward for the 1953 Stratford Indians. It was said she never missed a hook shot. She attracted the attention of a classmate who also happened to live across the road. Ernie (Bud) Myers was an 18 year-old with a crew cut who was soon a constant presence in mom’s life. They were married on a warm September day in 1957 at the Swedish Lutheran Church of Stratford.
Upon Ernie’s graduation from Cornell College in 1958, they began an adventure that took them to Alexandria, VA, (1959-1961) where son Steve was born; Springfield, Illinois (1961-63); Cedar Rapids, IA (1963-1984) where son Tom and daughter Karen were born; and finally, to Des Moines in 1984 where they reside today.
Mom’s time in Cedar Rapids was when her family grew up. She was a full-time mom, and her kids were her priority. She was our coach, teammate, cheerleader, practice partner and motivator. She got us to school, to church, to games, to practice, and to jobs for 20 years.
When mom and dad moved to Des Moines us kids were nearly grown. Mom played tennis for fun, but she reengaged her high school athleticism and became the #1 ranked 35 and over women’s doubles player in the state. As retirement for Dad approached in 2000, Mom and Dad began to spend their winters in Scottsdale where they golfed, sat by the pool and made many wonderful friends. They also bought a family home in West Lake Okoboji on Dixon Beach where they watched their grandkids swim at the beach, fish off the end of the dock and went on long slow boat rides at sunset. Mom and Dad were able to take some amazing trips to Europe, Hawaii and Alaska. Mom also went with friends to Greece, Rome, Norway and the Arctic Circle. Mom was a member of St Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines for over 30 years. She loved her church family and had many dear friends whose prayers and thoughtfulness gave much needed comfort and support.
Our mom was good at being a friend. She had church friends, tennis friends, Stratford friends, Scottsdale friends, Boji friends, Cedar Rapids friends, and Des Moines friends. She loved them all. She had style, both in the way she dressed and in the way she decorated her home. She had a dry sense of humor and was known to pull a prank or two. She could be direct, but she coupled it with a natural likeability. She was artistic and creative, smart and funny, and it was always a joy to be around her. She was tough, but she was understanding. Mom and Dad lost a daughter in 1958. It changed her life. Mom struggled with depression for 30 years. It was relentless, but she was very brave. Our mom was simply the best. We love her. We will miss her.
Janet Myers is survived by her husband Ernie, two sons, Steve (Sheila) Myers of Cedar Rapids and Tom (Amy Jo) of Des Moines; a daughter Karen (David Corkins) Reidy of Denver, CO and nine grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father John Larson, mother Lucille Larson, daughter Kristin Myers and brother Erling Larson.
