Janeen “Jan” Blakesley

Janeen “Jan” Kay Blakesley, age 68, of Lamoni, IA, passed away May 15, 2025, after a hard fought battle with cancer, at the Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines, IA, with her family by her side.

Jan, the daughter of Charles Raymond and Clara Irene (Miller) Sweeney, was born August 5, 1956, in Madison, WI, the youngest of five children.  Jan was a faithful, active member of the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) church her whole life.  Jan graduated from East High School in Madison, WI, in 1974.  She then attended Graceland College in Lamoni, IA.  At Graceland, Jan met the love of her life, Mitchell Norman Blakesley, while volunteering on the Native American Cultural Appreciation Team (NACAT).  She lovingly joked he had to mellow out his wild side before she would agree to go on a date with him, but once she did, she realized how generous, kind hearted, and supportive he was, and she was hooked.  They were united in marriage on May 25, 1979.  After graduation from Graceland with her education degree, Jan began teaching alongside Mitch in the Lineville-Clio School District where she taught a combination of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade for the majority of her 32 years with the district before it consolidated with the Wayne Community schools in Corydon, IA, where she finally retired 5 years later.

Jan and Mitch were blessed with two children, Jacob Luther Blakesley and Jessica Leah (Blakesley) Bishop.  They were devoted and supportive parents, attending or championing every extracurricular activity their kids were interested in.  Jacob and Jessica have fond memories of their parents spending school nights eating dinner together as a family, helping with homework or music practice time, spending one on one time focusing on each of their interests, and reading or watching TV together before bed.  Mitch passed away suddenly in 2005 never having the opportunity to meet their grandkids, but Jan, or Gran, as her grandkids fondly referred to her, continued the same love and support with her grandkids as much as she could by making an effort to attend their events in Florida either in person or virtually, calling often, and sending cards for every occasion.

Jan often said she felt busier in her retirement than when she was teaching and raising her kids. In retirement, Jan continued her devotion to her church, becoming ordained as a Elder in July 2024. She also volunteered in the community through many avenues such as Lamoni Wheels, Lamoni Food Bank, and organizing a community children’s choir. Jan was an avid quilter and part of the quilt guild and Mites. She enjoyed serving others and encouraging family and friends through phone or FaceTime calls.

Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Mitchell Blakesley; parents, Charles and Clara Sweeney; parents-in-law, Vere and Marjorie Blakesley; brother, Kenneth Sweeney; sister-in-law, Elvalena Hayton and her husband Earl; nephews, Charles Lawson and Gary Hayton; and niece Heather Sweeney.  Jan will be missed by her children, Jacob Blakesley and his wife Rachel of Crawfordville, FL and Jessica Bishop and her husband Robert of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren, Levi, Joel, Clara, and Joanna Blakesley; siblings, Kathy Tucker and her husband David of Clive, IA, Charlene Sweeney of Madison, WI, Ilene Lawson of Madison, WI; sister-in-law, Pam Sweeney of Marion, IA; brother-in-law, Rex “Bud” Blakesley and his wife Rosalie of Des Moines, IA; nieces and nephews, Angie Gourley, Jeremy Tucker, Timothy Tucker, Brent Sweeney, Aaron Sweeney, Colleen Cunningham, Shawn Sweeney, Sara Lawson, Laura Crofutt, Tom Hayton, Diann Johnson, Roger Blakesley, Steve Blakesley, Terry Blakesley, and many more relatives, church family and friends who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate Jan’s life will be held at the Lamoni Community of Christ church in Lamoni, IA, at 10:00 AM Friday, May 30, 2025, with Stu Sherman and Terry Jones officiating.  Burial will follow at the Hamilton Cemetery, at Pleasanton, IA.  A visitation gathering will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the Community of Christ church from 5:00-7:00 PM. Arrangements were through the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, IA.

A memorial fund has been established by the Family.