Jan Elaine Huegerich

Jan Elaine Huegerich the daughter of Allen and Ginny (Huffer) Wardrip was born November 20, 1956, in Frankfort, Indiana and died October 22, 2019, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 62 years, 11 months, and 2 days.
Jan was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. She attended St. Therese Parochial School, and then graduated from Park Hill High School with the Class of 1975. While in High School Jan was responsible for the creation of women’s sports at the school. She studied at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, where she participated in the women’s tennis program. After college, Jan moved to Coon Rapids, Iowa and was employed at Eye Associates. In 1979, she married John Nielson. They were blessed with three wonderful and brilliant children: Matthew, Kelli and Katie. Jan worked as the Activity Director at Carroll Manor in Carroll, Iowa for several years then moved to Nevada, Iowa, where she helped initiate the Adult Day Care Program.
On May 1, 1993, she was united in marriage to Michael Huegerich at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. They moved to Exira, and Jan was employed at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa for a short time. She then became the Activity Director at the Exira Care Center in Exira for more than 18 years before she retired in December of 2013 following a stroke. Jan resided at home with Mike’s care until she moved to the Exira Care Center in March of 2019.
Jan was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, and a member of the E-Club. She was an avid sports fan and was the statistician for all of the Exira High School sports. Jan enjoyed watching tennis and softball, but above all enjoyed being with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was her infant son Matthew Nielson; her parents; and her sister, Ginger Wardrip.
Survivors include her husband Mike Huegerich of Exira, Iowa; her children: Kelli Nielson and her significant other Lorenzo Keahey of Ankeny, Iowa, Katie and husband Nick West of Whiting, Iowa; and McKenna Wardrip of Irwin, Iowa; her grandchildren: Londyn, Braylin, and Kellen Keahey of Ankeny, Iowa; Owen and Ryker West of Whiting, Iowa; and Ginger and Vivian Wardrip of Irwin, Iowa; her brothers: Chris and wife Rowena Wardrip and Jay and wife Lesa Wardrip all of Kansas City, Missouri; her father-in-law and mother-in law Dale and Mary Ann Huegerich of Exira, Iowa; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Kristi and husband Jim Lindgren of Elk Horn, Iowa and Tim and wife Ann Huegerich of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 5:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. The Mass of the Christian Burial will be concelebrated by Father David Nkrumah and Father Chris Fontanini of Friday morning, October 25, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Exira Cemetery. The honorary casket bearers will be Chris Wardrip, Jay Wardrip, Tim Huegerich, Jim Lindgren, Nick West, Lorenzo Keahey, Owen West, Ryker West, Londyn Keahey, Braylin Keahey, Kellen Keahey, Ginger Wardrip, and Vivian Wardrip.