Janet Eileen Smith

Janet Eileen Madden Smith was born on June 22, 1934, in Lewis, IA, to Paul Madden and Maxine Hofmeister Madden, the middle child of three. She died on January 26, 2023, in Wheat Ridge, CO. They lived in town, but all had to work on the family farm. Jan was a basketball player during high school and she graduated in 1951 as Salutatorian of her class.

Gene and Jan were married February 5, 1952, in Hiawatha, KS, and were married over 68 years when Gene died in 2020. Conni Jo was born February 1953. Gene was an over the road truck driver and they lived in Omaha, Des Moines, Westminster, CO, Wray, CO, Santa Fe, NM and finally Farmington, NM. They purchased the tuxedo rental business in the 1980’s and operated that until 1999. Jan had worked at J.C. Penney’s off and on for over 25 years as a bookkeeper, and was an election worker.

Jan was very active in Eastern Star in Wray, Santa Fe and Farmington and was Worthy Matron several times in Santa Fe and Farmington.

Jan and Gene loved having Conni’s friends around and always encouraged that. Jan was very involved during Conni’s growing up years in Wray. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, was a very talented seamstress, enjoyed playing bridge, and she loved to play a game of Horse with anyone who dared to go up against her.

Due to health changes, Jan and Gene moved to Wheat Ridge, CO, in December 2018.

Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; her parents; her sister, Dr. Joan Marshall; her brother, Darryl “Shorty” Madden; her niece Vicki Lea Smith; brother-in-law Lee Smith and wife Wanda; sisters-in-law Leola (Smith) Porter and husband Port; Anna Mary (Smith) Nelson and husband Glenn.

She is survived by her daughter, Conni; nieces Jackie (Steve) Hartman, Jody (John) Brann, Jill (Tom) Ludwig, Kim (Chuck) Ousey, Kelli Madden, Teri (Tony) Turnbull and Sondra Stroup; nephews Greg (Julie) Silkman, Robert (Mary) Smith, Gregory (Barbara) Smith, Craig Porter, Douglas (Connie) Porter, Crandall Porter, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

She was a loving, kind, honest, hardworking, funny, spunky, strong, independent woman; a beloved wife, and an exceptional Mom. She will be greatly missed.

A dual celebration of life for Jan and Gene will be held mid-summer.

She loved little kids, and we lost Vicki to leukemia at age 5, so donations, if you so choose, may be made to St. Jude’s, or any Children’s Hospital cancer unit.