Janet Mary Horstman

Janet Mary Horstman, 74, of Mason City, died Sunday August 28, 2016 at her home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 2, 2016, at Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams with the Rev. Andrew A-Mensah Officiating. Interment will follow in the Osage Cemetery, Osage, Iowa. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with a scripture wake service at 6:30 PM on Thursday September 1, 2016, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.

Loving wife, mother and friend Janet Winning Horstman went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 28th. Survived by her husband; Larry, children; April Horstman (Dusty) Reser, Tamara (Jerry) Murray, Kevin (Jessica) Horstman and grandchildren; MacKenzie, Wyatt, Jackson, Addelyn and Max.

Born May 29, 1942 in Northboro, MA the daughter of Rodger and Mary (Brady) Winning. Janet was raised in Northboro with her three younger siblings Richard (Judith) Winning, Elizabeth Heartsong and Mary (David) Picht. Janet attended Our Lady of Grace Academy in Colebrook, NH for her junior and senior years of high school. She graduated in the class of 1960.

On September 24, 1960, Janet entered the convent Daughters of Charity of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Littleton, NH. There for 6 years and received training as a novitiate and educator. Her profession name was Sister Marie Simone. She taught in Morrison, NY before moving to teach at the Sacred Heart School in Newport, VT.

Janet then attended Stonehill College in Easton, MA where she received her teaching license in 1968. That year she moved to Clear Lake, IA and began teaching at Nora Springs-Rock Falls Community School. She married Larry Horstman in 1970 and began a family in the rural farming community outside of Nora Springs.

Janet assisted with running the farm and raising their children. When her children were old enough, she started a second career as Activity Director at the Nora Springs Care Center, a position she held for many years impacting many lives with her infectious smile and positive and gentle personality.

Janet loved to quilt, garden, cook and bake. She loved her family with the heart of a servant. She taught CCD, was active in Circle and was a devoted member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City, IA.

In 2009 Larry and Janet moved to a new home in Mason City fulfilling a lifelong desire to live by the water. She enjoyed caring for their home and garden, having coffee on the deck and spending time with family and friends.

In her life she touched many hearts and left a lasting impression with all she met. Her smile will always be cherished by those blessed to have known her. She wished not to be mourned but to have her life celebrated. We celebrate the life of this loving wife, mother and friend. Thank you Janet.

Mrs. Horstman was preceded in death by her parents Rodger and Mary Winning and her brother Richard Winning.