Mary Jane Armstrong

Mary Jane Armstrong, daughter of John William & Marie Evelyn (Kinnan) Frederick, was born November 13, 1933 in Cedar Bluff, Iowa. Janie graduated from Tipton High School in 1950 while still 16 years old. Janie fell in love with Grant H. Armstrong and while Grant was stationed in Boston, MA, she traveled to him and they were united in marriage on August 16, 1952. Following Grant's discharge, they made their home in Mechanicsville where they raised their five children. Janie was more than a stay at home mom. She was the business manager of Grant's trucking operation and her life revolved around raising her children and maintaining the household. She had to be many things to her children and she put her heart into all she did. She was a wonderful cook and she had the ability to make a "gourmet" meal out of the simplest ingredients. Saturday snacks of cheese & crackers and Sunday pot roast were her specialties. Janie provided for her family in the form of crocheted Afghans. Her children and grandchildren have keep-sake blankets made with love. She always had a big garden and canned in the summer to feed the kids throughout the winter. In the later years of Grant's trucking career,...[more]

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nie enjoyed trucking with him and stopping along the way to enjoy life. She was lucky with a lottery ticket and read newspapers from front to back. She was devoted to her Frederick heritage and cared for the "boys". Janie was involved with the Mechanicsville United Methodist Church as a Sunday School teacher and was a Camp Fire leader. Janie was devoted to the American Legion Auxiliary Busch-Dennis Unit 309 and she made sure that each of her granddaughters was paid-up life time members of the Auxiliary. On October 28, 2013, at 2:26 p.m., Janie passed away suddenly at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with her daughters by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Grant on May 7, 1984; her brothers Melvin, Lyle, Rhea Alan Frederick; in-laws Glen & Rose Bailey, Teddy Albaugh, and Larry Albaugh. Those left to cherish her memory include her children Grant H. (Jinks) Armstrong, Jr & wife Cindy of Danbury, IA, Mike Armstrong & wife Diane of Oviedo, FL, Judy Strickler & husband Tom of Mechanicsville, IA, Bill Armstrong & wife Sandy of Mount Ayr, IA, Sally Worby & husband Garry of Solon, IA, and special son Larry Platner & wife Cynthia of Lisbon, IA; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; her sister Jo Ann Dietz & husband Ed of Tipton, IA; in-laws Ernie Albaugh & wife Nancy, Jo DeForest & husband Jim, and Mary Albaugh; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held at the Mechanicsville United Methodist Church on Friday, November 1 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 2 at the church. Officiating will be Rev. Barbara Krueger and music will be provided by John Krob. Casketbearers are Calvin Armstrong, Rob Armstrong, Wesley Strickler, Jared Armstrong, Josh Armstrong, Paige Worby, and Andy Platner. Burial is in Rose Hill Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established to the American Legion Auxiliary Busch-Dennis Unit 309.