Janet Monroe Obituary

Janet Ann Monroe, age 64, went to her eternal home on Monday, April 28th, after a courageous battle with leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Calmar Lutheran Church, 200 East St., Calmar, IA, with Pastor Daryl Thompson presiding. Burial will be in Calmar Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home – French Chapel, 202 South Washington St., Calmar, IA. Also, from 10:00 a.m. to the time of the service on Tuesday morning at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorials to help cover Janet's medical costs that were accrued this past year. The remaining funds will be donated to the Ossian Senior Hospice. Please send to Scott Monroe at PO BOX 114, Ossian, IA 52161.
Janet was born on June 4, 1960, to Paul and Phyllis (Halverson) Doubek in Decorah, Iowa. Janet graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1978, with what she would call the best classmates.
If you knew Janet, you knew love. She embodied love and care for everyone she met. From her beautiful smile to her welcoming embrace, Janet welcomed you into her life from the moment she met you. She knew no stranger.
Janet married the love of her life, Scott Monroe, on October 28, 1983. They spent 41 years together, full of life and love. Together, they loved to go "bumming," by which Janet meant shopping trips, spending time with friends, watching Iowa games, and just being in each other's company. Janet and Scott raised three beautiful children together: Nicole, Darin, and Ryan. These three were blessed with a mother whose love and care for them never waivered, who supported them through every up and down, and who showed up in their lives every chance she could. Janet loved her children with every ounce of herself.
Janet's heart grew even bigger when her grandchildren were born. To say she was the best grandmother is an understatement. Janet lived for these kids and would do anything for them. She was at every sporting event, theater performance, singing or dance performance, and milestones of all kinds. She was the loudest person cheering in the stands, the one crying out of pride, and always showing up with a big hug. She loved spoiling them all with their own shopping trips, making sure they had everything they needed, especially new school shoes. Her grandchildren were her reason to fight the awful disease she did, out of love for them.
Janet was the biggest cheerleader for her children, her grandchildren, and Rock Valley College (where her son Darin coaches). She would cheer for the RVC Softball Team in person, at home, and even from her hospital bed in her last days of life. She traveled with them on spring break trips, home games, away games, and most importantly, to their National Tournaments. She was an avid fan, pacing back and forth for all their close games, making tons of t-shirts and gear for all her family, and celebrating with them in their victories.
Janet also loved having a good time with her friends. From playing cards to having a drink at a local establishment, singing and dancing at karaoke, and test-driving cars, Janet and her friends had the best of times. They traveled together, laughed endlessly, and weren't afraid to make fools of themselves. Janet loved the time she spent planning and celebrating her class reunions, seeing her classmates and reminiscing together. Janet knew how to laugh and helped others do so, too.
Janet loved to decorate her porch, making her home look beautiful and welcoming, from the inside and out. Her home was a place of hospitality for anyone who entered, and she prided herself on making it look the way it felt. She always kept her cabinets full of food and her fridge full of drinks, so anyone who came over was provided for.
Just as she kept her home clean, Janet also worked at Luther College for many years keeping the dorms clean as the housekeeper. Not only did she make sure the students had clean showers and hallways, but she also made sure they had clean clothes, and if they didn't, she would carry her work home with her as she did their laundry. She even provided pickup and drop-off laundry service for her children and grandchildren. Janet took extra care of so many students, especially those who couldn't go home for the holidays, spreading cheer and love with them in those hard moments. Once she moved on from Luther College, Janet continued helping others with her own home cleaning business. She loved not only making their homes clean and fresh, but also hearing their stories and growing in relationship with each and every client.
Janet will be missed by so many people. She was one of the brightest of lights, and she shared her light with all she met. We will always hold on to her light, her love, and her strength. Her last year on this earth, she showed us what strength looked like. She fought hard, and she fought until the end. We are so proud of her and the full life that she lived.
The family wishes to extend a thank you to all the medical professionals who walked with Janet in her cancer journey: Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic, and M.D. Anderson, especially Doctor Hammond. Thank you to all her family that helped facilitate and coordinate her care this past year, and a special thank you to her sister, Sandy, who spent countless days, weeks, and months with Janet when she was undergoing her treatment. Thank you all for caring for Janet throughout this difficult journey. We would also like to extend a thank you to the staff at the Ossian Senior Hospice for loving and caring for loved ones during this time.
Janet is survived by her husband: Scott Monroe. Children: Nicole (Brian) Ondrashek, Darin (Amanda) Monroe and Ryan (Kelsey) Monroe. Grandchildren: Madisen Ondrashek (Jimmy Fuhrman), Dayten Ondrashek, Annisten Ondrashek, Lauren Ondrashek, Grace Monroe, Jamisen Monroe, Case Orville Monroe, Josephine Monroe, Eleanor Monroe, and Luella Monroe. Mother: Phyllis Doubek. Sisters: Paulette (Mark) Doubek, Sandy (Tony) Doubek. Mother-in-law: Harriet Monroe. Brother in laws: Stan (Nancy) Monroe, Sheldon (Dawn) Monroe. and Sister in law: Sue (Pete) Blue; and countless nieces and nephews.
Janet was preceded in death by her father: Paul Doubek. Sister: Julie Doubek. Her father-in-law: Fielden (Fritz) Monroe and her beloved, Auntie Bev.