Janice Elaine Orr

 Janice Elaine Walker Orr, daughter of Ernest B. Walker and Ethel M. Seim Walker was born on March 31,1938 in Mitchell South Dakota. 

 When Ernest was transferred to Miller So. Dak. as Manager of the Bell Telephone the whole family liked the feel of the small town. Janice was a very active girl who loved animals, acrobatics, roller skating and ice skating and swimming. Jan continued to enjoy swimming all her life. She joined Girl Scouts right away and attended the Lutheran Sunday School and Church with her parents. Bible School and Bible Camp in the summer. 

 Janice attended Miller Public school and has always shared great memories of small school life and friends. After her education she married and moved to many states and many towns due to transfers. Her Favorite was Kalispell Montana, then Powell Wyoming where she began a nursing education at NWCC in Powell then continued her studies at Sheridan College, Sheridan, Wy. Later she with her four children moved to Aberdeen So. Dak.to be near family.

 Jan’s two brothers lived in Aberdeen, SD One brother was a Professor at Northern State University and the other had begun college there after his service in the Air Force. Another student who had also finished his obligation in the Army was a roommate of her brother. Jan had told many times about the wonderful, kind person who became friends with she and the children. All who enjoyed the honesty, care and respect he showed to the family. He loved the children and was as proud of them as if they had been there all along. Jan and Keith were married in Sept.5th1969 Keith graduated the next May and his new family watched with pride along with the new baby born girl. A red-haired boy was born a couple of years later to compete the family.

 The family's first move was to Galesburg IL, where Keith was employed as an Insurance Adjuster by an Independent Adjusting Company. and Jan went right to work at Americana Nursing Home. The family moved Spencer IA in 1973 and from there on The Orrs were in an active part of the community.

 While Keith continued in his profession, Janice worked for St Luke's Nursing Home for 5 years before she was offered the job of Executive Director of the Spencer Area Senior Center.by the local Area Agency on Aging combined with the Clay County on Aging to fund one Director for two previous positions. She held that position for 20 rewarding years. She liked the challenges and took them in stride. The Center was in the old Schmidt furniture Building, and it continued there for 6 years. The Congregate meals, various planned activities and the fundraising games proved to all they needed to expand this area. This debt had been paid off the previous year. During this time the Congregate meals were expanded to Sunset Apartments, Everly, Royal and Peterson. It was then, that a big move was made to the empty.

 North side of Gateway North. A lot of fundraising was done and the City, County and many generous citizens made it possible to retire the debt before six months were up. With a new greatly expanded area a lot of services were implemented. These services expanded to activities and services way beyond the plans. The Spencer Area Senior Center was said to be the most innovative Center in Iowa. At the time of her work at the Center Janice received many, many awards for all her Volunteer Service and work with many boards, committees and other volunteer organizations in the community. One special honor came from Governor Branstad for her creation of the Senior Sports League where people over 50 yrs. old could join any of the four teams planned especially for them. This League eventually competed at the Iowa Senior Games and won many medals.

 Jan was active in the community belonging to many civic organizations and serving on the Board of Director for many, These included Arts on Grand, Spencer Community Theater, Golden “K”, Concert Committee, Habitat for Humanity, Spencer Trail Assoc., Tourism Committee, Heart Association, United Way, RSVP, Beta Sigma Phi.

 After her retirement from the Senior Center, State Bank asked her to work part time there and organize and lead a Senior Club. While doing this she hosted many special events, trips and tours. 

 She then started making jewelry for herself and her friends. Later she joined with Sharon Stadsvold and they started Vive ,a nonprofit jewelry company. Making and marketing bracelets with all profits being donated to cancer research. Each of the unique bracelets was named for a friend that had been touched with cancer. Over the years they donated thousands of dollars to this cause. After her husband retired, they began spending the winters in Florida, while there she joined a painting group and discovered a real flair for watercolors. She entered several of her painting in the Clay County Fair and won many blue ribbons and one Best of Show.

 She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother Kentner Walker 

 Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband Keith of 55 years, her children Liala (Bob) Ralph, Brian, Laurel (Tony)Waters, Cara, Rebekah (Frank) Zhao, Jeremy (Kim), Khuen (Vonnie) Noy and Joy (Rusty)Johnson, 18 Grandchildren, 5 Great-Grandchildren one brother Darwin (Marlena) Walker and many other relatives and friends.