Jane A. Trainer

Jane Ann Trainer, 78, of Mason City, Iowa, passed peacefully into the arms of her loving Lord on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the I.O.O.F. Home in Mason City. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026 at St. James Lutheran Church, Mason City, with interment to follow at 1:30 p.m. at Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Jane's family.

Born to Charles and Virginia (Pahl) Cooper on November 15, 1947 in Osage, Iowa, Jane was the eldest of four children. She helped her parents on the farm just south of Glenville, Minnesota, where she graduated from Glenville High School in 1965. After moving to Mason City, Jane attended and graduated Hamilton Business School in 1967. She would work at A.C. Nielsen and several other jobs before her son was born, at which point Jane stayed home to help raise him. In 1983, she returned to work by beginning her employment at Target, where she worked until she retired in 2012, and held a variety of positions—everything from store associate and lead cashier to working the bakery and managing the Food Avenue.

Jane met Steve Trainer, the man who would become the love of her life, when they were both just kids on neighboring farms. After being formally introduced to each other at Lutheran Bible School in Glenville, Steve took Jane on their first date to the County Fair, and the rest was history. When the couple married at just 19 years old, the neighbors shook their heads and said it wouldn't last. But after 58 years, 134 days, and a lifetime of beautiful memories together, it's safe to say they were wrong.

In 1970, Jane and Steve were blessed with their only son, Christopher. Jane stayed home to help raise Chris until he was 12 years old. She was a compassionate and caring mother, fun and supportive of Chris. Jane took him to all his sporting events, cheering him on at Little League baseball, youth wrestling, high school basketball and more. Whenever possible, the two were sure to be found in the kitchen in the evenings, catching the 5:30 sports update on the radio while Jane cooked dinner for the family.

Jane was a devout member of the Lutheran Church all her life, and was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City for over 50 years. She was active in nearly every committee and guild the church had to offer over the years. As she aged and found it more difficult to come in to church in person, she still made sure to tune in to services online whenever she could.

In what spare time she could find, Jane was a great fan of watching the Hawkeyes and a variety of auto races, especially Outlaw Sprint Cars. Steve and Jane also enjoyed multiple cruise trips together and travelled the world over, including to Hawaii and Australia, where they made great friends. Jane had a wonderfully outgoing personality and collected friends wherever she went. She was an excellent baker and cook as well. In her later years, her home developed renown amongst her friends as the 'holiday sanctuary'; as the saying went around Christmas-time, "If you don't have anywhere to go, head to the Trainer house."

Those left to carry Jane's legacy in their hearts are her husband of 58 years, Steve Trainer; son, Christopher Trainer of Eagan, Minnesota; sister, Carol (Steve) Hengesteg and brother, Phillip (Nancy) Cooper, both of Northwood, Iowa; brother, Marvin Cooper of Dallas, Texas; and a great many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Virginia Cooper; parents-in-law, Lowell and Hazel Trainer; and her grandparents, Herman and Lena Pahl.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the I.O.O.F. Home and to St. Croix Hospice for their excellent care in Jane's last days.