Janell Jean Hauf

Janell Jean Hauf died of metastatic breast cancer Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, at UnityPoint Hospice Taylor House. She was 58.

Mrs. Hauf was born in Des Moines to Leonal and Lois Newcomb on Oct. 19, 1959. She married Jim Hauf on Sept. 9, 1983.

The couple visited all 50 states, hitting their last state with a trip to Hawaii for their 30th wedding anniversary. They enjoyed camping together, especially in northeast Iowa. Annual fall trips to orchards yielded a truckload of fresh apples for the whole family.

Mrs. Hauf was a mother of three, grandmother to seven and great-grandmother to one. She devoted most of her energy to cheering her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews at events from the softball field and basketball court to fine arts performances and graduations.

Mrs. Hauf enjoyed having her grandchildren come stay with her for camping trips and longer visits to her Pleasant Hill home.

She enjoyed baking and hosting family and neighborhood parties. She planned elaborate Easter egg hunts and heaped gifts upon her loved ones at birthdays and Christmas. She doted on her two Havanese dogs, Maggie and Cody.

Mrs. Hauf also had an in-home child care business when her children were still at home and worked briefly as a cook for Des Moines Public Schools. She volunteered at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for the past seven years.

Mrs. Hauf is survived by her husband, Jim, her children, daughters Kelly (Kevin) Goben and Kimberly Arkfeld, and son, Tyler, her mother, Lois Newcomb, sisters Joyce (Bob) Rogers, Janice (Danny) Garber and Juli Auerbach, and a brother, Steven (DeeAnne) Newcomb.

She is also survived by three granddaughters Kelcie Scarlett and Allison and Ava Arkfeld and four grandsons Travis, Kale, Kyle and Bryson Goben. She had one great granddaughter, Lyric Goben.

Mrs. Hauf was preceded in death by her father.

Her remains were cremated.

Instead of a funeral, Mrs. Hauf asked her friends and family to celebrate her life at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 at Valley View Village in Des Moines. Dinner will be served.

Memorial contributions may be made to the John Stoddard Cancer Center or the UnityPoint Hospice Taylor House.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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