Jane E. Kolstead

Jane E. Kolstead died on March 31, 2017 at Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born May 11, 1934 on the family farm in Adair Co. near Casey, Iowa to John and Ina (Caltrider) Kromrie. She began schooling in County School at the tender age of 4. Jane prevented the school from closing as there were only three other students, two of which were her siblings. Her brother and sister would have had to walk three miles to another school had Jane not enrolled. They walked on a muddy dirty road and older sister Norine and brother Dale were such good second parents to watch over her. In 1951 at age 17 she graduated from Casey Independent High School.

After cheating death as the result of a major illness, Jane recovered with help from the doctors and nurses at the University of Iowa. Not long after her recovery she was given the news that her boyfriend, a Marine, had been killed in the mountains of Korea. These two life changing events led Jane into nursing.

She returned to the University of Iowa, this time not as a patient, but as a student in a new one-year Practical Nursing Program, established to assist with the nursing shortage brought on by the war in Korea.

After completing her training Jane became an LPN on a private wing at the University Hospital working with a variety of patients and treating a wide range of illnesses. During this time, Jane was elected President of the Iowa City Licensed Practical Nurse Association.

While in Iowa City Jane also met her future husband. On December 4,1954, she was united in marriage to Wayne Kenneth Kolstead at Danforth Chapel in Iowa City. They were both members of the United Methodist Church. Their son Scott was born in Iowa City in September 1957.

The couple moved to Plymouth Wisconsin in the late 1950’s to start a mink ranch. Son Mark was born there in 1961. They were good, loving parents. Jane always gave great credit to Wayne for the care of their children and keeping the house in order as she continued her nursing career.

In Wisconsin she worked at a small hospital in Plymouth and later at a new large home for the aged at Sunny Ridge outside of Sheboygan near the Great Lake Michigan. The family were members of the First United Church in Sheboygan and Jane assisted in opening the Church’s’ first nursery.

After five years in Wisconsin the family moved back to Iowa to be near family. Jane worked at Iowa Lutheran Hospital from 1962, until her retirement in 1995. Along the way, she did private duty work at Des Moines General Hospital and Riverview Manor. She was a past member of the ILH auxiliary and had many fond memories of her time working at the hospital. She had great admiration for her co-workers and considered it an honor to provide care for the many patients in need over the years.

Her great hobbies were cooking and preparing large family meals, making all feel welcome in her home, gardening, and sewing. She felt her greatest achievements were a happy 56-year marriage to Wayne, two wonderful sons and a precious daughter-in-law, Laurie.

She is survived by two sons, Scott and Mark (Laurie) of Altoona, IA; siblings, Norine Clayton of Greenfield, IA, Janet (Jim) Zimmerline of Stuart, IA, sister-in-law Elaine (Kenneth) Yarrington of Casey, IA and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Wayne; siblings, Dale, Darrell, Dean, Duane, and Betty Kromrie; brother-in-law Donald Clayton and sister-in-law Betty Smith.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW in Altoona, Iowa followed by burial at Altoona Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2017 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the food pantry of your choice or the Animal Rescue League.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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