Janice Louise Marting

Janice (Jan) Louise Marting, 82, of Mason, Ohio, entered Eternal Life on May 20, 2025.

A memorial service will be held at Stone Chapel in the Christian Villages at Mason (411 Western Row Rd., Mason, OH 45040) on June 28th at 1:00PM. A private service for the immediate family will be held at a later date for the final resting of her ashes.

Janice was born on July 3, 1942, on the family homestead northeast of Garnavillo, IA, to Merrill Marting and Carrie (Taake) Marting. She was the youngest of three children and spent her childhood on the family farm. Jan was baptized on August 16, 1942, and confirmed on March 25, 1956, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo.

Jan graduated from Garnavillo Community School in 1960. Afterward, she studied nursing and worked for Dr. D.W. Pfeiffer in McGregor, IA. On June 3, 1967, she married C. Brad Pettit at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. They moved to Akron, OH, where Jan worked for Drs. C.L. Henault and A.H. Kyriakides. To this union they were blessed with a daughter, Gina, and a son, James.

In 1976, work took their family overseas, where Jan’s love for travel flourished. She lived in five countries and visited over 30. She created many cherished memories, often recounting amusing stories from sleeping in airport lounges. Jan was actively involved in various international organizations, including the International American Women’s Clubs, raising funds to alleviate poverty, and serving as the Director for Girl Guides in Thailand, and as a Girl & Boy Scout Leader in the U.S. She also volunteered as a PTA member at international schools. Jan pursued higher education at the University of Akron, the National University of Singapore, and Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, IA.

Jan returned to the U.S. in 1992, went back to college, and later worked in health care. In 2001, she completed a two-year Stephen Ministry course at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Dubuque, IA, and became a Deacon. Jan had a passion for serving the elderly, and for 17 years she dedicated her talents to Stonehill Franciscan Services Nursing Home. She retired in January 2013.

In July 2021, Jan moved to Christian Villages in Mason, OH, to be closer to her daughter and family.

Jan’s greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren. Anyone who knew her knows how special she was—endlessly social with a spirit that naturally drew people in. She loved God, her country, and traveling. She had many hobbies, including sewing, crafts, crocheting, and knitting, through which she created countless handmade items that she generously donated to charity, churches, and fundraisers. She also enjoyed gardening and playing games like golf, bridge, cribbage, dominos, mahjong, and bingo. One of her true passions was genealogy, which she pursued with great enthusiasm. Jan found great comfort in reading her Bible, and her faith was a steady, quiet presence that guided her through all of life’s moments.

She is survived by her daughter Gina (J.T.) Marshall of Mason, OH; her son James (Sarah) Pettit of Minneapolis, MN; and five beloved grandchildren: Kathryn, Logan, and Alyson Marshall, and Isabella and Quinn Pettit. She also leaves behind two brothers, Dale (Penny) Marting of West Chicago, IL, and Merlan (Mary Lee) Marting of Dubuque, IA; three Godchildren, Stacey Fowler of Martinez, CA, Linda Moore of Amarillo, TX, and Trent Marting of Dubuque, IA; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Merrill and Carrie Marting; her in-laws, Elizabeth (Peg) Pettit-Bandow and Charles Lyman Pettit; stepfather-in-law, LeRoy Bandow; and brother-in-law, Jeffery Pettit.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice. We also encourage everyone to perform a random act of kindness in Jan’s honor.