Obituary of Janice Lorraine Rhodes

Janice Lorraine Rhodes died peacefully in her sleep on February 10, 2024 at her home in Auburn, Washington. She was 76 years old.

She was born August 24, 1947 in Pacific, Washington in a remodeled barn to Clarence & Donna Mae Hutton. She was the oldest of five children, and was part of a close knit family. They often went camping, clam digging, oyster gathering, and dipping for smelt on the Cowlitz River.

She loved playing games at family gatherings like “pick up” baseball, kick the can and Olly Oxen Free with her siblings and her beloved cousin Lynda. She grew up mainly in Western Washington and was confirmed in 1961 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn.

The family moved to Kotzebue Alaska for a short time in the early 60’s and were able to experience Indigenous Inupiat culture while living 26 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

After their great Alaskan adventure, the family moved back to Barron Wisconsin where they ran a grocery store for several years. Jan graduated from Barron High School in 1965. She then attended the University of Wisconsin - Superior for 2 years.

At some point in the 1969 she saw a man driving a Ford Torino. According to the man, she was more interested in the car than him. However, shortly thereafter they fell in love and she married that man, Carl Rhodes, on a snowy and bone chilling day on February 14, 1970.

In 1971 they welcomed their first child, Jeff, and lived in Chippewa Falls until 1975. They then moved back to her old stomping grounds of Auburn Washington. In 1976 they bought their forever home. In 1978, another bundle of joy was added to the Rhodes Clan, when she gave birth to her youngest son, Craig.

Jan was over the moon when in 2003 she welcomed her first grandchild Ashley. In 2010 she was again overjoyed with the arrival of her second grandchild Finley. Finally her 3^rd grandchild arrived in 2013 when Landon dropped onto the scene, literally. She doted on and loved all three more than anything else in the world.

Jan held down many jobs after moving back to Washington. She worked at Far West Garments, K-Mart, and was Secretary of both her sons’ bowling leagues. It was not until she went to work for the Auburn School District that she found her niche. She worked many years at Pioneer Elementary and later at Dick Scobee Elementary. She retired in 2013 after several decades in service to her community.

She is survived by her husband Carl, her children Jeff (Tammy) & Craig (Juli) as well as her three grandchildren Ashley, Finley, & Landon. She is also survived by her siblings Bruce (Pam), Larry (Kathryn), Joanne and Judy (Ron) as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence & Donna Mae.

A service for Janice will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn, WA on March 20^th at 1pm with a reception to follow at the Church.