Janet Hodges

Janet Mae Hodges, age 91, of Atlantic, IA, passed away on Friday, December 3, 2021, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, IA.

On October 15, 1930, Janet was born in Oklahoma City, OK. The family moved to Sterling, IL, and settled in Vinton, IA, where Janet grew up and graduated from high school in 1948. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and initially obtained a two-year teaching degree in 1950. Janet earned her four-year BA Degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls in 1971.

Her teaching career included teaching elementary and primary grades in Jesup, Mt. Auburn, Garrison, and for most of her career in Vinton, IA. She retired in 1988, and at the time of her retirement she was teaching in the same classroom she attended as a first grader. Following retirement, she moved with her husband, Rev. Leon Hodges, whom she had married in 1974, to Knoxville, IA, where she started a Christian Preschool at Trinity Lutheran Church. In 2002 Leon retired and they moved to Atlantic, IA. Leon and Janet have three daughters; Polly Welp of Ankeny, Iowa, Patty Howard of Perry, Iowa, and JoAnn Clippinger of Omaha, Nebraska. Janet was baptized in the Presbyterian Church as an infant. In recent years she had been a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, where she was active in attending bible study, singing in the choir, and many fellowship activities. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending sporting activities with Leon. A few of Janet's hobbies included playing piano and reading.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Bernice Struble; sister, Catherine Struble Mulloy; brother, Dr. Raymond Struble; her first husband, Glenn Reed; and granddaughter, Sarah Howard.

Janet is survived by her husband, Rev. Leon; her three daughters Polly Welp, Patty Howard, and JoAnn Clippinger; six grandsons, five granddaughters; and one great-grandson.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA, with burial to follow at Atlantic Cemetery. A luncheon will be provided following the committal at Zion Lutheran.

Visitation with family present will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the family in honor of Janet and will be designated at a later date to some of her favorite charities, and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home (P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022).

The staff at Schmidt Family Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for the Hodges Family.

Condolences may be left at www.schmidtfamilyfuneralhome.com

*****Here is a Youtube video of Janet's Funeral Service recorded on behalf of Zion Lutheran Church.      https://youtu.be/x41IUFF-pDk