Janice K. Artz

Janice Kay Artz (Olk), 80, of Mason City, passed away Monday, May 25, 2020 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center.

A gathering of remembrance and celebration of her life will be held at a future date.

Cards of condolences may be sent to JPaul Artz, Country Meadow Place, 17396 Kingbird Ave, Mason City, IA 50401.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association of Iowa or Country Meadow Place.

Janice was born September 16th, 1939 to Connie and Esther (Muhlenbruch) Olk at Latimer, Iowa. She graduated from Franklin Consolidated HS in 1959. She worked for many years in the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office as well as the Cerro Gordo County Treasurer’s Office after marriage.

Janice was Baptized and Confirmed at Immanuel UCC in Latimer, where she taught Sunday School. She was a member of First Methodist Church in Mason CIty.

She met the love of her life, JPaul Artz, of Nora Springs, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. They were united in marriage in Albert Lea, MN on May 2nd, 1965, residing in Mason City except for a brief stay in California.

Janice had a deep love for her family. She was known for hosting many family gatherings, and until recently, documenting the family trees for both the Olk and the Muhlenbruch families, compiling extensive volumes solely on a manual typewriter, and organizing the 100th Anniversary cookbook honoring her Olk grandparents. After her mother’s passing, Janice made at least weekly trips to Latimer to help her dad with housework, gardening, lawn care and anything else he needed help with.

She and JPaul were known for sitting in their garage welcoming neighbors as they came by for a visit, for her seasonal decorations that filled several closets in her home, for doing ceramics and other crafts, putting together picture puzzles and gardening. She also babysat several neighborhood children over the years.

She is survived by her husband, JPaul; three sisters-in-law, Mardel Weber, Sheffield, Dixie Olk, Latimer, and Joyce Timm, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her parents in law Paul and Ida Artz; sisters, Mary Minnie, Lois and Betty; and brothers, Don and Vern Lee (Butch); Brothers-in-law, Clarence Johansen, Gordon Worden, Dean Timm; sister-in-law, JoAnne Tankersley and nephew Greg Olk.