Jan Mason

Janet "Jan" Jean Mason, age 95, of Atlantic, IA, passed away on Friday, February 09, 2024, at Kavanagh House in Des Moines, IA.

Jan was born on May 6, 1928, in Loup City, Nebraska, to Joe and Pauline Harenza. She grew up in North Platte, Nebraska, and attended St. Patrick's Catholic High School, graduating as salutatorian in the class of 1946. She has said that those very happy memories of dances and hayrides with close high school classmates helped sustain her throughout life. Jan then pursued higher education at Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado on scholarship. After a year in Colorado, Jan returned to continue her studies at Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney, Nebraska. She completed her education with a twelve-month clinical at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, and became certified as a Medical Technologist.

On July 11, 1951, Jan married Leslie Mason at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte, NE. After Les moved to Atlantic, Iowa to start his accounting career, Jan also began working as a licensed Medical Technologist for Dr. Millard Peterson in Atlantic. Jan and Les had five children: Rick, Tom, Dan, John, and Mary. Jan continued to work for Dr. Peterson for many years, and Dr. Peterson even delivered all of their children! Jan later worked part-time at JC Penny for many years, keeping the customers satisfied, especially in the very popular catalog department. She received an award from JC Penny for never having a customer complaint.

Jan was a dedicated member of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic for over 70 years. She served the Church as an active member of the Council of Catholic Women and the Altar & Rosary Society. Jan formed many lifelong friendships with faithful and fun women of the parish. She was also involved in the Atlantic community as a member of the D.O.E.S. (the women’s auxiliary of the Elks Society). In her free time, Jan enjoyed sewing, tending to her flowers, and keeping the family in line.
When Jan and Les were young, they enjoyed swing dancing, square dancing, and having card club or coffee at the house. She was a loving wife to her beloved husband Les and she was also a dedicated mother to her five children. She and Les tried very hard to raise upstanding children and to teach them faith in God and the value of hard work. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a devoted Catholic and her faith in God was a significant and consistent source of her peace and joy.

Jan is survived by her four sons, Rick (Diane) Mason of Des Moines, IA, Tom (Elizabeth) Mason of Dallas, TX, Dan (Toni) Mason of Chandler, AZ, John Mason of West Des Moines; by her daughter, Mary Bolser, of Des Moines, IA; by her daughter-in-law Tammy Jensen of Urbandale, IA; by her grandchildren, Becky (Eric) Bolte, David (Victoria) Mason, Parker Mason, Caroline Mason, Courtney (Thomas) Starr, Drew Mason, Sara Mason, Derek Bolser, Mason Bolser; and by her great-grandchildren, Lucas, Olivia, Charlotte, Henry, Evelyn, Charlotte, Clara Jo. She is also survived by a cousin, Sandy, who always regarded Jan like a sister, and who now lives in Loup City, NE in Jan’s grandfather’s house after moving back from Georgia later in life.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Pauline Harenza, and her husband, Leslie Mason.

Visitation will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024, at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, IA, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at the Church with Fr. Brad Robey as the Celebrant. Interment will take place at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery following the Mass. A luncheon will be held following the committal service in Saints Peter and Paul Parish Center.

Flowers may be sent to Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church or, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Jan Mason to a charity of your choice or otherwise mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022 for distributions to local organizations or charities in her memory.

Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, IA.