JANET  L.  (JAN)  SMITH, 87, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Wednesday evening, July 26, 2023 at Accura Healthcare of Aurelia.

Private family graveside services will be held at the Afton Township Cemetery, rural Cherokee, Iowa.  Pastor Michael Agnew will officiate. There will be no visitation. The Boothby Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Janet was born on December 16, 1935 at Des Moines, Iowa to Paul and Helen (Van der Aarde). She attended school in Des Moines until moving to Milford, Iowa in 1952. She graduated from Milford High School in 1954.  While working as a bookkeeper for the Cherokee Bottling Co. she met R. Dean Smith.  They were married on May 15, 1959 and they raised three children.

Janet also worked for Karlson Plumbing and Heating, Lundell Construction before joining her husband at the HyVee Distibution Center. She retired from HyVee in 1989 after 20 years.

She was a member of the St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Cherokee Ladies Shrine Club, Abu Bekr Shrine Ladies Auxiliary, Daughters of the Nile and the Abu Bekr Camping Club.

She was preceded in death by her mom in 1983, her dad in 2002, and her husband Dean in 2014.

She is survived by her three children: Debbie Knowles of LeHigh Acres, Florida; Steve Smith of Richland, Washington; Linda Khodeir of Cherokee, Iowa; Grandchildren: Jeremy Smith, Heather Carter, Keesha Knowles, Kenny Knowles from Florida; Logan Houser from Ohio; Christie Irish (Travis) from Cozad, Nebraska; Corey Speer from St. Joseph, Missouri; Amanda Kuzn and Ben Smith both from Washington State, and 24 great grandchildren.