Janice Rowedder Obituary

Jan Rowedder, age 83 of Lake View, IA, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City, IA. Janice Beulah Provost was born on September 15, 1941, to parents Byron and Marjorie (Osborne) Provost in Carroll, IA. The family lived on a farm before moving to their lake home in 1951. Jan attended Lake View Elementary School and graduated from Lake View High School with the class of 1959. She was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Lake View. After graduating high school, Jan attended Colorado Women's College in Denver, Co, obtaining her Associate of Arts Degree. She then came back to Iowa and attended the University of Iowa for a year, and then went to Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, graduating with her Bachelor of Science Degree.
On August 26, 1962, Jan married the love of her life, Loren Rowedder, at the United Methodist Church in Carroll. This union was blessed with three daughters, Renee, Roxanne, and Randi Jo. They raised their family in Lake View where they lived on the south side of the lake. On Christmas Eve 1986 the family moved into their new home located on Provost Island. The home was designed by Jan & Loren.
Jan's first teaching job was at the Wall Lake High School. She was one of the first teachers to introduce Human Anatomy and Physiology at the school. Jan also taught Home Economics along with Biology. She loved teaching as it was a true passion for her. She would later fill in as a substitute teacher at area schools and eventually became a real estate broker.
Jan was an active member of the Sac County Women's Republican Party and helped at the polls every election. In 1990, she hosted Mrs. Brandstad's tour promoting her 'Recipes & Recollections from Terrace Hill' cookbook. She was also appointed by Governor Brandstad to be on the Iowa Chiropractic Examiners Board.
Jan and Loren were both a part of the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program, a cause they held near and dear to their hearts. A lot of work went into caring for the swans; they were glad to be a part of helping the population grow and seeing them eventually being taken off the endangered species list.
Jan and Loren traveled far and wide. They enjoyed trips to places such as Hawaii, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Acapulco to name a few. Jan loved being on the water and as a child went to many boat races with her father. During a trip to Acapulco with Loren, she caught a seven-foot Sailfish, which was shipped home and proudly mounted on the wall in their new home.
Jan enjoyed gardening and canning, baking (her cinnamon rolls and pumpkin bars were everyone's favorite), cooking, planting flowers every spring and caring for them throughout the summer, snowmobiling, and being in bridge club with her mom as her partner. She was also in several other card clubs over the years and enjoyed hosting them. She was indeed a great baker who made and decorated many cakes for not only her family but also others in the community over the years. She was also quite good at making cream cheese mints for special events. Jan loved animals and had several dachshund dogs and Siamese cats throughout her life.
More than anything, Jan loved being in the company of her family. She loved her girls and was so proud of them. As her health deteriorated, she was cared for by Roxanne at home which was a true blessing. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her daughters, Renee Rowedder of Carroll, IA, Roxanne Rowedder of Lake View, IA, and Randi Jo Provost Rowedder of Urbandale, IA; sister Jeanne (Larry) Karsten of Lake View, IA; sister-in-law Lorene Rowedder of Ankeny, IA; nieces Tracey (Mark) Chadwick of Brighton, CO, and Nicole (Bill) Reilly of Salt Lake City, UT; Laura (Mike) Dressler of Harrisburg, SD; Sara (Mike) Renner of Grayslake, IL; Suzy (Bob) Loch of Ankeny, IA; Sharon (Dan) McMartin of Ankeny, IA; nephews Jonathan (Robyn) Karsten of Brighton, CO; Larry (Nancy) Rowedder of Carroll, IA; son-in-law Raul Gutierrez of Lake View, IA; other extended family members and friends.
Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Loren Rowedder; parents Byron and Marjorie Provost; parents-in-law George and Helma Rowedder; and brother-in-law LeRoy Rowedder.
Jan's family would like to thank the following people for the wonderful care and assistance she received: Megan Pool, Raul Gutierrez, Mark Mogensen, Ricardo Gutierrez, Sac County Public Health, Fabiola Gutierrez, Marni Roth, Sac County EMS, Lake View Police Department, Sac County Sheriff's Department, and Black Hawk Life Care Center.