Janis Lee Alexander, 79, of Smithland, Iowa passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at a local hospital. Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Sunday, September 15, 2013 at The Life Church, 4125 Orleans Ave., Sioux City with Rev. Stephen Williams officiating. Burial will be in Smithland Cemetery. A visitation will be held 5-8 p.m with family present from 6-8 and a prayer service at 7pm on Saturday, September 14 at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to www.waterburyfuneralserviceinc.com

Janis was born October 22, 1933, in Onawa, Iowa, the daughter of Merle and Lela (Zortman) Cutler. She attended rural school and then graduated from Onawa High School in 1951. Janis received a scholarship to attend Nursing School at Cook County School of Nursing in Chicago, IL. She was baptized on September 25, 1951 during revival conducted by Pastor Irwin Baxter, Sr. from Joplin, Missouri on December 7, 1951. She traveled to Houston, Texas with Pastor and Mrs. Fred Olson to start a Pentecostal Church. On December 11, 1951 she received the gift of the Holy Ghost during a revival at Reverend Kidson’s Church in Houston. She worked as a secretary for the Houston Post, taught Sunday school, and led the Music Ministry.

Janis married Ralph Walter Alexander on April 26, 1953 at Onawa Christian Church. They lived in Houston, Texas until April of 1954 where Janis worked as a secretary for an oil company. They then moved back to the Onawa area, and then settled in Smithland where they farmed for many years and raised their family. Ralph passed away on January 1, 2006.

She graduated cum laude from Morningside College in Sioux City in May of 1971 with a degree in elementary education and English. She taught at Winnebago, Nebraska, Anthon, and in Sioux City. She received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Morningside College in 1978. While teaching in Sioux City she worked at MCI in Sergeant Bluff for many years. She then graduated from the nursing program at Western Iowa Tech in 1993, as well as becoming a licensed massage therapist in 1991, graduating from the Midwest College of Massage Therapy. She was received as an honorary member of Psy Chi Sorority at Morningside College in Sioux City. She was also a past member of the Ladies Circle at both the Onawa and Sioux City churches. One of Janis’ passions was music. She played piano and sang solos for her church and other special occasions. She was very active in her Pentecostal Church and traveled to Israel in 1995, 1998, and 2006.

Janis is survived by six of her eight children and their families; Kathryn Garcia of Evanston, Wyoming, Mike Alexander of Scottsdale, Arizona, Kim and Gloria Alexander of Smithland, Iowa, Randy and Tracy Alexander of Corydon, Iowa, Kevin and Linda Alexander of Sergeant Bluff, and Jeffry and Sandra Alexander of Lakeville, Minnesota, 23 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren, a sister Joanne and her husband Bill Torrey of Iron River, Wisconsin, and a sister-in-law Karen Cutler Heidman and her husband Marvin of Sioux City. She is also survived by her special friend/caregiver, Dana Hovinga and her daughter Taylor Jo.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, two sons Dovin Matthew and Merlin Leigh, a granddaughter Sara, a son-in-law Mark Garcia, two brothers Wilbur and Daniel Cutler, and her parents Merle and Lela Cutler.

The family wishes to extend their thanks to Dana and Taylor Jo Hovinga for their loving care and friendship shown for our mother. Memorials may be directed to the Life Church, 4125 Orleans Ave., Sioux City.