Janet Marie Porter

Janet Marie Porter, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center at the age of 81. She was born on November 29, 1941, in Rockford, Illinois, to Melvin and Lillian (Gregersen) Swanson.

Janet's early years were marked by resilience and adaptability as she moved to Alta, Iowa, with her mother while her father served in the United States Army. She graduated from Alta High School in 1960.

On June 25, 1961, Janet married the love of her life, Clayton "Clay" Porter. The couple settled in Des Moines, where Janet worked as a secretary for Grandview University. In 1977, they relocated to Adel, and Janet began working for the Dallas County Extension, dedicating herself to her profession until her retirement in 1997.

.

Clay and Janet shared a passion for travel, particularly exploring the South and East States. They cherished their vacations in their beloved Florida vacation home, creating lasting memories along the way. Janet found solace and joy in her hobbies, which included gardening, cultivating a bountiful vegetable garden and tending to beautiful flowers. She had a penchant for reading and took great pleasure in visiting Civil War parks and plantations.

She is survived by her loving husband, Clay; her children, Jeff Porter, Carri (Mike) Lauterbach, and Randy (Lavender) Porter; her grandchildren, Kristina, Taylor, Jacob, Nicholas (Haley), Lacey (Alex), and Nathan; her great-grandchildren, Ari, Thomas, and Hayes; her sisters, Lorraine (Bill) Plander, Phyllis (Don) Witzel, and Jo (Garny) Gaffey, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents.

A private memorial service will be held to honor Janet's life. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be directed to the Dallas County EMS or Spurgeon Manor, reflecting Janet's deep compassion for others.