Obituary of Jane Susan Moles

Jane Susan “Janie” Moles, the daughter of Clark Lewis and Edna Palmatier (Smith) Woodburn, was born September 4, 1931 in Iowa City, Iowa. She graduated from Iowa City High and the University of Iowa with a degree in Occupational Therapy. On July 4, 1954, Janie was united in marriage with Dr. Marvin Robert Moles at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. She was a homemaker and, later in life, also worked for Mid-America Dairymen, Inc. Janie was very active in many areas of service. She was a bagpiper for the University of Iowa Highlanders during college, played the violin in the Amadeus String Quartet in Newton, and was a 40 year member of the Newton First Presbyterian Church Choir. She was a longtime volunteer for the Woodrow Wilson elementary school reading program and the adult literacy program; served as a deacon and elder at the Newton First Presbyterian Church; served as a longtime Hospice volunteer; and was one of the founding members of the Crosslake Presbyterian Church in Minnesota. Janie enjoyed gardening, quilting, reading, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes; and traveling with her husband, and in later years, with her children and vacationing at their home at Upper Whitefish Lake. Janie died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa. She was 84 years old. Janie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin, on June 10, 2006; and her brother, Robert Woodburn, in 2015. Those left to honor Janie’s memory include her sons, David (Jackie) Moles of Waukee, Iowa, and Donald (Dortha) Moles of Fillmore, Indiana; her daughters, Diane Moles of Newton, Iowa, and Debra (Doug) Merfeld of Walford, Iowa; her grandchildren, Tony Moles, Nicole Keown, Joseph (Diana) Moles, Brad Moles, Kristi Merfeld (Cole Hamilton), and Amber Merfeld; her great grandchildren, Taylor, Daniel, Gavin, Ashley, Mason, Chloe, Elias, and Oliver; her great-great grandson, Nicholas, nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 2nd at the First Presbyterian Church in Newton. The family will greet friends Monday morning from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the church. A luncheon will follow the service. Memorials may be designated in Janie’s name to the Newton First Presbyterian Church or the Newton Dollars for Scholars and may be left at the church or at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home.