Janet E. Harrison

Janet Esther (Wilkerson) Harrison passed away Dec. 17, 2011, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. The family will greet friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service. Memorials to Dollars for Scholars may be left at the funeral home.

Janet was born Oct. 15, 1932, in Albion, Iowa, to Edith (Price) and Harry O. Wilkerson. She graduated from Albion High School and Iowa State Teachers College. Her teaching career began in 1952 at Lincoln School in Newton. She later earned a bachelor of science degree plus 30 hours at Drake University. The majority of her teaching years were at Woodrow Wilson School in Newton before retiring in 1994.

Janet married William J. Harrison on Sept. 4, 1955, in the First Congregational Church in Newton, Iowa, where they made their home. A son, William Price, and a daughter, Erin Laurie, were born.

Janet had been active in many school, community, social groups and service projects including being a life long member of Honor Phi Kappa Phi, American Field Service, Questers, Writers Club, a charter member of the Newton Community Theatre, charter member of the Ikettes, Foreign Exchange Student host, Jasper County Historical Museum, and Women’s Club. She also supported many worthwhile charities.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Chester Wilkerson; two siblings in infancy; and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

Janet is survived by her husband, William; children, William Price of Clive and Erin (Jim) Henderson of Grinnell; her grandson, Brandon (Lydia) Bucklin and great-granddaughter, Isla, of Des Moines; eight step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; her cousins, Shirley Paul of Marshalltown and Mary Schany of Curlew; sister-in-law, Helene (Jack) Robinson of Riverdale; her nieces, Carmen Yvonne of Keewatin, Minnesota and Andrew Brown of Davenport; nephews, Lee Smith of Superior, Minnesota, Doug Smith of Davenport, Neil Harrison of Chicago, Illinois, and Mathew and Marc Harrison, both of Davenport; and many great nieces and nephews.