Obituary of Janis G Hubel

Janis Greer Hubel of Iowa City died February 6, 2023, at Oaknoll residence where she lived since 2015 with her husband, Kenn. She was born to Edith and Ira Greer. Ira was a milkman and Edith was a doctor’s secretary. They moved from central Nebraska in 1931 to Mt. Kisco, NY where Jan attended school, played French Horn in the band and was a member of the cheerleading squad.

She studied nursing at Syracuse University where she met her future husband, Kenn Hubel, who was a resident in medicine. They married in 1957 and moved to Silver Spring, MD where he had a fellowship in physiology and Jan was busy raising Wendy, born in 1958 and Nancy, born two years later.

The couple moved to Iowa City in 1962 where her husband joined the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of Iowa. They happily raised their two daughters and a son, Adam, born in 1964. They bought a fine old house on N. Linn St and restored it to a single-family home. To help pay the mortgage they rented a room to a succession of medical students who became lifelong friends. To discourage the trend of turning similar old houses in the area into rental properties, Kenn and Jim Harris formed the Northside Neighbors Association.

The family enjoyed taking advantage of summer vacations on camping trips around the Midwest and western states. Photographs and memories of those summer vacations remain a rich source of delight.

In 1969-70, the family was blessed to spend a year in Oxford, England, where Jan’s husband enjoyed a remarkable sabbatical year, during which the family was immersed in English culture. The year was a high point for the family: A fine school for the three children, three trips to continental Europe, living in a lovely house in an historic part of the countryside, and experiencing the history, architecture, and little surprises and delights of English culture.

Jan was an avid bicyclist. Their biking exploits included Scotland and England, New Zealand, France, and Greece. In later years, they travelled to India, Viet Nam, New Zealand, The Galapagos, Turkey and Tanzania.

After getting all three kids involved in Iowa City Swim Club, master’s swimming became a passion for Jan. She competed in many events and made lifelong friends.

She enjoyed being a seamstress, making fine clothing for her family and many friends. Her knitting needles also produced many items for her children and grandchildren.

Because of the limitations caused by Jan’s Parkinson’s disease, disorientation, and physical frailty, she moved to the Oaknoll Health Care Center, where she received affectionate care until the time of her death. As in life, she passed with grace and peace, with her family by her side.

Her loving survivors include husband Kenn, children Wendy Ford (Steve), Nancy Davin, Adam Hubel (Cate Sundeen), grandchildren Ben Ford (Faith), Andy Ford, Tyler Davin (Alyssa), Tim Davin (Molly), Blake Roe (Emily Mueller), and Brianne Roe, and six cherished great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider giving a gift to the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation