Obituary of Janet L. Whitebook

Janet Louise (nee Ohsman) Whitebook, born June 15, 1929 in Cedar Rapids, IA, a longtime resident of Iowa City, IA and Marco Island, FL, died on January 27, 2017. She was the second of four daughters born to Joe and Gladys Hirsch Ohsman. Janet was a graduate of the University of Iowa where she met her husband of 49 years, Maynard “Moe” Whitebook. They worked together as business partners in Moe Whitebook’s Clothing store for many years. Eventually Janet pursued an administrative career at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center until they moved to Florida in 1980. There she put her creative talents to work as an interior designer with Creative Interior Design of Marco Island. Janet and Moe traveled extensively, feeding a desire to connect with other cultures on many levels. Their belief in diversity and understanding through music, dance and education was a foundation for the upbringing of their four children. Janet passed on her love for the performing arts to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a major catalyst for bringing professional musicians to Collier County and worked as a founder of the Naples-Marco Philharmonic (Artis-Naples). Janet and Moe were passionate collectors of 20th Century Academic Art. They were both active members of the Jewish communities in Naples and Marco Island. In memory of her beloved sister, Leona, Janet established a cancer support group on Marco Island twenty eight years ago. She helped so many people who traveled the road that she would ultimately go down. She often spoke of the support group members as friends and together they supported each other over the years. Janet was preceded in death by her mother and father; sisters, Leona Robinson and Rozanne Deutsch; husband, Moe; daughter, Julie; granddaughters, Ariel, Teal and Rebecca and son-in-law Gene Grobstein. Her loving family will carry on her legacy. She will be dearly missed by her sister, Harriett Wolf; brother-in-law, Jerry Robinson; daughter, Terry Whitebook; son, Jeffrey Whitebook; daughter, Joan Hackbarth and husband Dan; Swedish son, Jan Johansson and family; grandchildren, Kiersha McAdam and husband, Gillon; Lindsey Eakes and husband, Clint; Elizabeth, Meghan, Jonathan and Nathaniel Hackbarth; Samuel and Matthew Grobstein; Kyle Gardiner; and great granddaughters; Callie Eakes and Aurora McAdam. Janet’s core family includes many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She holds dear many adopted sons and daughters, brothers, sisters and friends. Janet’s outreach to her community was demonstrated by her philanthropic practice of supporting non-profits. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in memory of Janet Whitebook to Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship Program, 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. 02115. Memorial services were held in Naples, FL, and a Celebration of Life service will be on February 19th at 2pm at Agudas Achim Synagogue, 401 E. Oakdale Blvd., Coralville, IA.