Pitz, Janice (Manders)

Janice (Manders) Pitz died peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, surrounded by family following a courageous journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). A Mass Of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton with Father David Ambrosy and Father Ardel Barta as co-celebrants. Interment will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery, LaMotte. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton. 

Janice was born Sept. 20, 1941, in LaMotte, to George and Lena (Till) Manders. On July 30, 1960, she was united in marriage with John Pitz at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in LaMotte.

Family was the joy of Janice's life. After retiring in 1997 from Clingman Pharmacy, where she was employed for 20 years, Janice was able to dedicate more time toward her true passions of wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

She happily enjoyed sharing that she was blessed with a loving husband; six amazing children; 26 beautiful grandchildren; one precious great-granddaughter; and an incredible circle of extended family and friends.      

 Janice is survived by her husband, John of Vinton; her children, Jackie (Joe) Schreder of Mount Vernon, Janelle (David) McHugh of Naperville, Ill., Jayne (Gordon) Beecham of Ankeny, Jeff (Tracy) Pitz of Woodbury, Minn., Jay (Julia) Pitz of Waunakee, Wis., and Joel (Kristine) Pitz of Ankeny; 26 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; her siblings, Lorraine (Julian) Manderscheid of Andrew and Mary Ann (Vern) Haxmeier, Ronald (Linda) Manders and Merlin (Vicki) Manders, all of LaMotte; and many nieces and nephews.

 She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Kenneth Manders; her nephew, Chris Manders; and her brother-in-law, Donald Pitz.

Janice had a positive influence on the lives of so many, brought out the best in those around her and had a gift for making everyone feel special. She will be fondly remembered for her brilliant smile, contagious laugh, genuine care for others, ability to find the silver lining in any situation and enjoying each day to its fullest.

A memorial fund has been established.