Janice Diane (Schwartz) Piercy

Graveside Service:

Friday, September 16, 2022

10:00 a.m.

Bethel Cemetery, Ellery, IL

Janice Diane (Schwartz) Piercy went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, September 10, 2022, after a three year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Jan was born on December 27, 1954, in Mason City, IA to Russell and Marguerite (Ashland) Schwartz.  Growing up on a farm she enjoyed driving the tractor, baling hay and dressing chickens.  She attended elementary school in Plymouth, IA and graduated in 1973 from North Central High School in Manly.  After attending MidAmerica Nazarene College for two years in Olathe, KS, she transferred to The University of Kansas and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  She was forevermore a proud Jayhawk!

During her time in nursing school, she visited her sister in IL and was introduced to Stephen Piercy, an IL farm boy and third year medical student at Washington University in St. Louis.  After a long distance romance by snail mail, they were united in marriage on May 27, 1978, in Mason City, IA.  During Steve’s final year of medical school, she worked as an RN at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Incarnate Word ICU in St. Louis.  Steve and Jan remained in St. Louis for his Urology residency program and started their family there.  After finishing residency, the young family moved to southern IL for a year and then to Fort Dodge, IA in 1985.  Jan worked in Steve’s private practice as an RN, office administrator, human resource director, IT specialist, bureaucratic snafu unwinder, and was known for nearly painless shots.

She was an active member of her church serving on the board and as treasurer for over twenty years.  Jan was instrumental in leading the children’s department and led worship for Children’s Church.  Jan was also very involved in her kids’ school.  She coached the CCS girls' basketball team for many years, and was especially proud of one undefeated season!  Jan loved sports.  She loved all sports.  She always seemed to know when it was time for a quarterback keeper, change-up, squeeze play, double pick, or box and one defense.  She had a very strategic mind and amazing memory for names and numbers.  She would often tell Steve what a patient’s diagnosis would be before he figured it out himself.  She was a very important person to have on your “team.”

In the community, she was a part of Christian Women’s Club and a lifetime member of Gideon Auxiliary.  Jan served in many ways, but most importantly, she loved and cared for her family.  She loved being a mom.  Jan was always very proud of her children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  Even as her health declined, a picture or video of her grandchildren would produce a big smile.

She is survived by her husband Dr. Stephen L. Piercy (retired) and children, Amy (Jimmy) Neighbors of Oklahoma City, OK; Katy (Rick) Ekstrom of Corydon, KY; Jesse (Adrien) Piercy of Hillsboro, KS; and Lucy Piercy of Fort Dodge, IA.  They have a total of 10 grandchildren.  Her siblings include Liz (Steve) Faron of Olathe, KS; Margene Holak of Benson, NC; and Ken (Rosa) Schwartz of Northglen, CO.  Jan was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Marguerite, her in-laws Lester and Agnes, and all of her beloved aunts and uncles.

Visitation:  Tuesday, September 13, 2022, from 4:00pm - 7:00pm, Gunderson Funeral Home, Fort Dodge, IA.

Funeral Service:  Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 10:30am, First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 N 24th St, Fort Dodge, IA., with luncheon to follow at the church.

Interment:  Bethel Church Cemetery, near Ellery, IL., on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 10:00am, with fellowship to follow at the church.

Ingram Meridith Funeral Home, Albion, IL.