Janet Kay Maharry

Janet Maharry of Estes Park, Colorado, formerly of Des Moines, Iowa passed away from breast cancer surrounded by her family on June 3, 2018. Janet Kay Calkin was born October 3, 1942 on a kitchen table just outside Clearfield, Iowa. She was raised on a farm four miles south of Randall Maharry, the man she would eventually marry. They shared life for 56 years. She took classes at the University of Iowa and then began to support Randall as he proceeded through his medical education. She was his rock and he was her guy. In 1975, they moved to Des Moines. She was the bookkeeper for Randall’s dermatology office.

Tennis was her sport and she excelled at it. Church was her second home. Her giving spirit is exemplified in the life of a young sixteen year old girl who now lives in Florida. Thirty-one years ago, Janet gave to her the gift of life, her bone marrow. That spirit was also demonstrated by the not for profit Village Thrift Shop in Estes Park Colorado which she helped found two years ago. In two years, The Shop has donated over one quarter million dollars to her community, Estes Park! Janet’s love of travel took her to 103 countries! Twice climbing Long’s Peak in her beloved Rocky Mountains was also one of the sources of her pride.

She would say that her greatest accomplishment was being “Granny” to Benjamin DeNardo, Haille Petroff (Jarred), Maxwell Maharry, Calla Lloyd, Lance Maharry, Foster Lloyd, Brevin Buster and Sabrina Maharry. She is also survived by her husband, Randall; sister, Ramona Duey (Harvey Howard); sons, Christopher (Laura) and Michael (Shelly); and daughter, Sarah (Marshall Hannum); niece, Linda; and nephew, Craig. Janet was proceeded in death by her father, James “Henry” Calkin and her mother, Eunice Frame Calkin; as well as an infant brother.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St. in Des Moines and a service at Windsor United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. on June 9.

In lieu of flowers Janet wished that gifts be given to the Endowment Fund at Windsor United Methodist Church. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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