Janet Irene McAfee

Janet Irene (Newell) McAfee passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Born on August 23, 1941 in Exira, the daughter of Selmer D. and Evelyn (Schwab) Newell, Janet was the oldest of three children, with two younger brothers.

She was raised in Anita and spent hours on horseback. She also began her love of cooking at an early age. She liked to stay in and make supper while her mother would do the chores. She thought it was fun to experiment with cooking. And besides, while she cooked she could watch TV which sometimes resulted in burnt suppers!

Janet graduated from Anita in 1959. After high school she attended Commercial Extension in Omaha for accounting. She worked at Walnut Grove in Atlantic until she married Charles McAfee in 1962. She then stayed home and helped with the farming and raised her family. Janet was an avid gardener and grew huge vegetable gardens to feed the family, can for the winter and flowers to enjoy.

She was an accomplished seamstress and sewed most of the kids’ clothes in the early years. She instilled the love of gardening, cooking and sewing in her kids' hearts.

Cooking was always a big part of her life, whether for her family or the Anita Sale Barn Café, Casey’s General Store (donuts and pizza) or the Adair Nursing Home. She was the owner/cook of The Banana Tree Café in Adair for many years, specializing in homecooked meals and homemade pies.

When she “retired” from cooking, she worked at Main Street Market in Anita. She was the friendly face at the cash register, or behind the meat counter, stalking shelves and mopping floors. She always had time for a chat with the customers that came through the store. And Saturday nights found her at the Legion Hall playing bingo for many years.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Selmer Junior Newell.

She is survived by her five children, Roberta (Mark Tilton) of Anita; Ralph (Debbie) of Parrish, FL, Steve of Massena; Alan of Madison, WI and Scott of Adair; six grandchildren, Alexandrea (Garrett) Schwanke, Christian McAfee, Cole (Jessica) McAfee, Tyler (Grace) McAfee, Paige McAfee, Peter McAfee and one great-grandchild, Miles McAfee plus one on the way.

Visitation with the family will be from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Private burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association in Janet's name and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home to P.O. Box 523 Atlantic, Iowa 50022.

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita is caring for the McAfee family at this time.