Carol Janice Focht was born on February 12, 1929 to Fred and Irene (Gourley) Focht near Morton's Mill, IA. She entered into rest on January 20th at the Homestead Assisted Living Facility in Shenandoah at the age of 94 years, 11 months and 8 days.

Janice grew up on the family farm, helping with farm chores, and gathering eggs. She attended country school in Montgomery County and began high school in Villisca, graduating in the class of 1946. She was a member of the librarians' club, class treasurer, secretary-treasurer of the Girl Reserves, business manager of the school paper and treasurer of the YWCA. She attended Simpson College, graduating in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in English. While in college, she worked on the school paper, "The Simpsonian" and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, serving as vice-president. Janice's first job was in Prescott, IA teaching typing, bookkeeping, history and English.

Janice was united in marriage with Dwight Lewis on June 18, 1950 at the Villisca United Methodist Church. To this union, two children were born, Carol in 1955 and Kay in 1958. She and Dwight were married 71 years before his death in 2021.

Janice continued her teaching career in College Springs, IA. She stayed with a family in the area while Dwight served in the Korean War. After the war, they moved to Villisca to help Dwight's dad with the farming operation. She was a full-time mother and housewife until her daughters started school. Janice then returned to teaching and taught 8 more years in the Villisca school system. In 1980, she received the Mother of the Year award from the Federettes.

Janice believed in service and spent countless hours giving back to her church and community. She was a lifelong member of the Villisca United Methodist Church, active in the women's circle group, serving many years as chairman. In 1979, she was awarded a special membership in the Villisca United Methodist Women. She was a 62-year member of PEO Chapter CH, serving as past president as well as other offices. Janice was a blood donor, giving over 5 gallons throughout her lifetime. She was a volunteer at the Villisca Good Samaritan Society washing and styling hair every week.

Janice was a kind, nurturing, selfless woman always putting others before herself. Family was everything to her and she always made every holiday and birthday special. Her generosity was evident in the giving of her time and energy for those she loved. She was the first to provide a meal to a friend or neighbor in need. Faith was important to her and she spent her life serving God through helping others.

Janice enjoyed growing and tending to her flowers, shopping, school activities, and attending her daughter's concerts and recitals. She was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Janice was a blessing to her family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dwight, parents, Fred and Irene Focht, mother and father-law, Vern and Marie Lewis, son-in-law Rich Fast, brother Marvin Focht, and sister Lola LaVonne Focht.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Carol Eno of Shenandoah, IA, Kay Fast-Deyoe (Dave), of Villisca IA; grandchildren, Dustin Fast (Laura) of Villisca, IA, Scott Eno (Robin) of Gwynn, VA, Trisha Fast (Rusty Preston) of Villisca, IA, and Blake Eno of Omaha NE; great grandchildren, Cody, Evan and Mackenzie Fast, Emma, Carson, Cole and Madison Cooper, Sophia, Clayton and Cooper Eno, Kaya and Caleb Owen, Niles and Simon Eno; and sister-in-law Barb Focht.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Homestead Facility for their kindness, care, and love. We are forever grateful.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Friday, February 2, 2024, at the Villisca United Methodist Church in Villisca, Iowa. Burial will be in the Villisca Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 5 PM – 6:30 PM on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the Villisca United Methodist Church. Memorials are suggested to the Villisca United Methodist Church, Villisca Alumni and Friends Association, or the Janice and Dwight Lewis Scholarship Fund.

Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel of Red Oak, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.