Janet Aunan

Janet Aunan, 98, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Heritage House in Atlantic.

Janet Elsie was born on December 10, 1924, at the Lutheran Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Claude Brown and Sylvia Mary (Cook) Chilton.  She grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, where she attended school, graduating Central High School in January of 1941.  Following graduation, she attended Morningside College for a short time and then began working as a type set operator for Western Union Telephone Company during WWII, traveling to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle.  After returning to Sioux City, she married Norman S. Aunan on June 28, 1947.  The couple moved to Atlantic in 1955, where they raised their family. Outside of raising her children she worked at the Atlantic Medical Center and His Bible and Bookstore.

 Janet became a Christian in April of 1947 and vividly recalls a sign at the Evangelical Free Church in Sioux City, which was started by her husband Norman’s parents, Bert Sr. and Ingeborg Aunan.  The blue neon sign at 18^th and Nebraska streets simply read “JESUS SAVES” …Jesus Christ was the source of her strength and was the strength of her life.

Janet was active in Christian Women’s Club and the Hospital Auxiliary.  Her main hobby, which she started in 1982 was Genealogy!

Janet is survived by her children, Thomas (Suzanne) Aunan, Catherine (John) Paul, Barbara Piittmann and John (Monica) Aunan; daughter-in-law, Carol Aunan; 16 grandchildren, Brian (Debbie) Aunan, Karen (Adam) Smith, Kristin Aunan, Beth (Todd) Cramer, Jeff (MaKenzie) Aunan, Katie (Thomas) Hoak, Jill (Jacob) Boyd, Matthew (fiancé, Lydia Hornig) Paul, Emily Paul, David (Carlie) Paul, James (Lindsay) Piittmann, Andrew (Maddie) Piittmann, Eric (Shaleigh) Piittmann, Benjamin (Stephanie) Aunan, Callie (Austin) O’Brien and Ezekiel (Taylor) Aunan; 26 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norman; daughter, Karen Louise Aunan; son, Douglas Charles Aunan; and siblings and their spouses, William (Lillie Marie) Chilton, Avis (John) Meyer and Anita (Val) Norcott.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2023, in Heritage Hall at Heritage House.  Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. in Heritage Hall and also during a light lunch following the service.  Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa.

The service will be livestreamed and a link will be available closer to the time of the service on her obituary at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.  The service will also be recorded and available on the funeral home website in the days to follow the service.

Memorials may be directed to the Heritage House Good Samaritan Fund, 1200 Brookridge Circle, Atlantic, Iowa 50022.

The family would like to extend a huge thank you to Heritage House and their great staff saying, “Atlantic should be proud of the excellent care they give to those people entrusted to them, they will be forever grateful for the care and loved shown to their Mom.”

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Janet's family and her arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.