Janice A. Bennett

Janice Ann Bennett was born on October 9, 1940, to Duane Gillette Bennett and Lora Genevieve (Gambs) Bennett in Mapleton, Iowa.

Growing up on the family farm near Smithland, Iowa, where she enjoyed the close proximity of many cousins and other family members, she attended Smithland Consolidated School. She graduated with the class of 1959.

She attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. She then moved to Newman Grove, Nebraska, where she taught school (grades 1-8) in a one room school house in Madison County Nebraska. While living there, she met Arthur Dean Duhachek, whom she married on December 27, 1961. To this Union were born five sons: Mark Aaron, Keith Lee, Duane Dean, Kirk Joseph, and Scott David.

The family lived in various towns in Nebraska and Iowa, including Albion, Kearney, Grant, Crescent, and finally settling in Neola.

Janice was an active member of the Methodist Church. She was Sunday school and Bible school director for many years.
After starting as a local den mother, she was an active Scout Leader at the district level for many years and received the Silver Beaver Award for her contributions.

Janice Received a Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education from Buena Vista College (Storm Lake) in May, 1989.

Janice fulfilled a lifelong calling by joining the ministry of the United Methodist Church. She served 5 years as associate pastor of the Faith Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska. She then went on to be Minister of Riverside United Methodist Church in Sioux City, Iowa. While there, she was able to baptize her eldest granddaughter. She retired in June 2010.

She moved back to Neola after her retirement, spending her time enjoying her friends, children, and grandchildren.

Janice died on Monday, December 6, having attained the age of 81 years, 1 month, and 27 days.

She was preceded in death by sons Keith and Duane, her parents, brothers Richard and Raymond, and sister Carolyn.

She leaves sons Mark Duhachek (Tammy), Kirk Duhachek (Asure) and Scott Duhachek (Sue), grandchildren Aaron Duhachek (Lindsay), Calvin, Anna, and Eric Duhachek, Tia, Brock, and Nika Duhachek, and great-granddaughters Paityn and Caroline Duhachek and many loving family members.

Memorial Service will be on Friday, May 27th, 2022 at Oakland United Methodist Church (200 Main St, Oakland, IA), Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service, also at the church.