Janelle “Janie” (Ruth) Marek, 96, passed from this life on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Washington County Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside. Burial will follow at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in rural Riverside. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 4 – 8 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona with a Rosary at 4PM. A memorial fund has been established for St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Vincent’s Cemetery, or Washington Knights of Columbus. 

Janelle Marek, 96, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Washington County Hospital after a brief illness. Janelle (Janie) Agnes Ruth was born May 9, 1929 on the Ruth family farm near Riverside, Iowa as one of 11 siblings born to Bertha (Bulger) and Herman Ruth. She graduated in 1947 from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Riverside . Following the career path of her older sisters, Rita and Eleanor, she attended college earning her teaching certificate. She taught Amish children in a small rural school house near Kalona until her marriage. Later in life Janie would meet former pupils who had fond memories of walking or riding horses down gravel roads to start their learning journey. 

Janie was united in marriage to Dale Charles Marek on May 31, 1949. They raised five children on the Marek family farm north of Washington and she proudly wore the title of farm wife and mother. She planted a large garden each year which we joked was her escape from her kids. She helped Dale on the farm as needed although driving a tractor was not her favorite chore. Janie’s baking was her pride and joy and was known especially for her pies and kolaches. After all, if you marry into a Bohemian family, you better learn how to make kolaches.

Janie and Dale followed many local bands dancing the night away. In later years they hosted chicken and fish fries for family and friends and never turned down a game of cards. When Dale retired from farming and turned it over to their son, John, he and Janie moved to Kalona settling into a brick home with a great view. When their children left the nest Janie worked as a cook at the Mid-Prairie Elementary School for ten years. Although an introvert at heart, she spread her wings and became a guide at the Kalona Historical Society for 21 years. A natural extension of her teaching career, she took thousands of tourists and locals through the buildings and artifacts highlighting stories of Amish culture and history. Janie received an iPad as a Christmas gift one year and while initially leery of the technology she soon found the magic of emails, games, weather, pictures and updates on the Ruth family Facebook page. It didn’t take long for her to find several daily masses on the internet. 

Janie was a life-long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she attended Mass in the church her ancestors helped build. Her faith was her strength and joy. For many years she and her friend Anita led the rosary at masses.

For the past two and a half years Janie lived at Halcyon House in Washington. She continued her love of books and reading and was a member of the HJ Club for over 50 years. Our family is grateful for the care she received at Halcyon and at the Washington County Hospital. Although Janie could no longer live alone and missed her Kalona home, she was often reminded that a cancer survivor of seven years was something to be proud of.

 Janelle is survived by her five children: Dianne Conrad (Merlin), Keota; Carol Marek (Jeff Corzatt), Springfield, Virginia; Karen Marek Bacher, Coralville; John Marek (Suzy), Washington; and Cindy Marek, Iowa City. She is a devoted grandmother of 8 (Allison Corzatt, Suzanne Black, Doug Conrad, Jennifer Ross, Jared Lyle, Jannette Conrad , Heath Lyle, and Audra Howell), 19 great grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren; siblings Mary Marek and Gene Ruth, both of Hills. 

Janelle is preceded in death by her husband, Dale, in 2006; granddaughter Jamie Lyle; son-in-law Joseph Bacher; sisters Rita Jenn and Eleanor Droll; brothers Paul, Robert, Don, Frances, and Leo Ruth; sisters-in-law Marie, Beverly, Emilie, Dorris, Phyllis, Shirley, and Doris Ruth; brothers-in-law Joseph Jenn, Walt Droll, and Robert Marek.