Jean Ann 'Jan' Todd

JEAN ANN “JAN” TODD

Marion

Jean Ann "Jan" Todd went to be with Jesus on Sept. 24, 2021.

She was born on Aug. 20, 1949, to Kenneth and Barbara Gates in Blythe, Calif. Shortly after they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Jan lived until she was 10. They moved to Albuquerque, N.M., but only stayed for a year and returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During middle school she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a church camp. After graduating from George Washington High School, she attended Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids.

She met and fell in love with Len Todd at a church singles group. On Jan. 3, 1970, they were married. They moved to Oklahoma City, where Len was stationed in the U.S. Air Force where she did clerical work.

After Len was discharged, they moved back to Cedar Rapids.

Jan and Len decided to become foster parents and cared for 12 children.

She and Len had four of their own children. She thoroughly enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and volunteering for various organizations such as La Lech League, Concerned Women for America, Boy Scouts, vacation bible school, AWANAS and her children's school activities. As a family they loved going to Woman Lake in Minnesota and were longtime members of Cedar Valley Bible Church.

Jan returned to work by becoming the athletic director and French teacher at Cedar Valley Christian School, which she loved.

After retirement, Jan enjoyed volunteering for the Marion Auxiliary, taking cruises and enjoying her 14 grandchildren.

Jan loved her family immensely. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two nephews and her brother-in-law.

She is survived by her husband, Len; her children, Alex (Jean) Todd, Lynne (Steve) Diggins, Katie (Josh) Petersen and Mary (Ben) O'Malley; her foster daughter, Hue (Tai) Le; her 14 grandchildren; her sisters and brother, Joe (Lori) Gates, Julie Cantonwine and Jennifer (Angelo) Lopez; and her aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial fund will be established in Jan's memory.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Cedar Valley Bible Church in Cedar Rapids, with Joel DeSousa and Tom Fogle officiating. Private Entombment will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Online condolences are welcome at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.