Janet Ehlers

Janet (Jan) June (Todd) Ehlers was born April 3, 1940, in Ida County and passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at Iowa Jewish Life Senior Center in Des Moines.

Janet graduated in 1958 from Ida Grove High School and in 1959 she married her high school sweetheart, William “Bill” Ehlers at the Ida Grove Presbyterian Church. Their union was blessed with three children, Tammaria (Tammie) in 1960, Todd in 1967 and Amber in 1976. Before Bill’s unexpected and untimely death in 1990, their family lived, worked and farmed in many communities in Iowa including Ida Grove, Alta, Leon, Breda, Carroll and Orient. After Bill’s passing, Janet lived at various times in Creston, Ames, Scottsdale, Arizona, Urbandale and most recently, Winterset and Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Janet loved to work and was a gifted and successful salesperson, working at the Creston Shopper, Creston News Advertiser and Ames Daily Tribune selling display advertising as well as an independent Farm Bureau agent and at many retail and department stores including Neiman Marcus, Dillards, Seiferts, Draper and Damons, Dress Barn, Chicos and Younkers.

Janet was known for her innate sense of fashion, and was always dressed to the nines with a perfect coiffure and makeup on-point. She was a master-level shopper and was the queen of the resale shop. She had a knack for finding the best bargains and hidden gems. She loved to decorate (and redecorate) any home she lived in and could put together incredible rooms on a budget.

Janet loved to travel. Special trips included France, Hawaii, Hilton Head, South Carolina, and many beautiful locations across the western United States with treasured friends and companions throughout her life.

Since 2016, Janet shared a home in Winterset and Lake Havasu, Arizona, with her partner, Donovan “Doc” Lucas. After her retirement, Janet took great joy in spending time with her family, eating a good meal and cooking her family’s favorites including her legendary brownies.

Janet was an outgoing, people person with an excellent sense of humor. She was a friend to many but especially her “Lunch Bunch” ladies - former Younkers coworkers who gathered weekly for lunch at the Jordan Creek Mall.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Hazel (Arnold) Todd and Merrill (Matt) Todd; siblings, Robert (Bob) Todd and sister-in-law, Catherine Todd of Storm Lake; Harold Todd and sister-in-law, Doris Todd of Ida Grove; sister, Phyllis (Todd) Hall and brother-in-law, Dale Hall of Gilmore City; brother, Donald (Donny) Todd and sister-in-law, Rosemary Todd of Black Canyon City, Arizona.

Left to cherish her memory are daughter, Tammie (Ehlers) Brundage (Jerry) of Princeton, Missouri; son, Todd Ehlers (Abi) of Norton, Kansas; daughter, Amber (Ehlers) Gustafson (Kory) of Ankeny; grandchildren: Julie (Brundage) Sealine (Amend) of Grimes; Kyle Brundage of Princeton, Missouri; Brad Brundage (Janelle) of Bryan, Texas; Samantha (Ehlers) Jacobson (Trent) of Ankeny; Trevor Ehlers (Kaitlyn) of Byron, Illinois, Texas; Kierra (Ehlers) Clymer of Creston; Justin Gustafson of Ankeny, Eos Gustafson of Chicago, Illinois, and Maylin Gustafson of Ankeny; and five great -grandchildren.

Graveside services will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at the Ida Grove Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines.

Memorials may be made to Iowa Jewish Life Senior Center in Janet’s memory.

All who knew and loved Janet are welcome to join to celebrate her memory. In her honor, guests are invited to wear their most fashionable ensemble with bright red or hot pink.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.