Janice Houska, age 94 of Sac City, IA passed away on Thursday, October 27, at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City, IA. Letha Janice Houska was born on November 25, 1927, to parents Leo and Gladys (Staack) Kane in Bremer County, IA. Janice lost her mother when she was 18 months old and her older brother when he was five. Her father’s parents came to live with her and her father in rural Fairbank, IA. She attended Country School and later graduated from Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Fairbank.
Janice met the love of her life, Peter Houska Sr. at a dance while he was on leave from the Marines. They were engaged for four months and were united in marriage on February 8, 1954, in Fairbank, IA. This union was blessed with six children: Mary, John, James, Michael, Peter Jr., and Anthony. Janice and Peter raised their family in the Dundee, Gladbrook, and Clemons, IA areas until 1974 when they moved to Sac City. Janice was an excellent farmwife. She provided a warm and comfortable home for her family. She enjoyed gardening and canning. She loved to bake pies and angel food cakes from scratch. Janice enjoyed reading, especially the Reader’s and Catholic Digests, until her eyesight failed. Janice was also very active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She helped with the CCD program for many years by providing or serving snacks. After Peter retired, they enjoyed attending the Knights of Columbus conventions and traveling. Most of all Janice enjoyed spending time with her family and following the activities of her children and grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 68 years Peter Houska Sr. of Sac City, IA; children: Mary (Kyle) Rohlk of Arthur, IA, John (Nila) Houska of Storm Lake, IA, James Houska of Rockwell City, IA, Michael Houska of Sac City, IA, Peter (Nancy) Houska of Sac City, IA, and Anthony (Renee) Houska of Sac City, IA; grandchildren: Brenda Melby, Brent (Kayla) Rohlk, Barbara (Lance) Taylor, Lauren (Gordon) Elliff, Aubrey (Mitchell) Sholty, Taylor Houska, Leslie (Trenton) Kos, Haley (Tyler) Melchert, Jessica Hines and step-grandson David (Paula) Rogers; great-grandchildren: Kynleigh Rohlk, Jaxson, Addyson, Kole, and Dodge Melby, Theodore and Norah Taylor, Braxton Sholty, Camden and Jovie Kos, Marieva, Mia and Mel Rogers; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Joseph and Evelyn Houska, Fritz Houska, and Donna Higgins.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Leo and Gladys Kane; brother: Jimmy Kane; great-grandson: Lathen Rohlk; step-mother: Martha Kane; step-brother: Ralph Higgins, and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Verna and Burrell Rembling, Erna and Lester Goedken, Ethel and Elmer Sissel, Marie and Keith Shearer, and Charlotte Houska.