"My mom, Mary Luscri, was a Stanley dealer under you dad & mom. Remember all the trips & parties with your parents. Janet was such an elegant lady & the perfect hostess. Prayers & thoughts are with all of you. What do you want to bet they are all talking shop in heaven. Marilyn Luscri McMillen"
In loving memory of
Janet Nesbit-Kerr
May 21, 1922 - December 11, 2016
Janet Nesbit-Kerr, 94, died peacefully on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at ManorCare in West Des Moines, IA. She was born May 21, 1922 to Mary and Stuart McCulloch and was raised in Waterloo, IA. At 18, after winning all state singing competitions, she took first place in a National Music Contest with a glorious rendition of Ave Maria which was to become her signature solo song all through her musical life. She graduated with honors from Waterloo West High School. In 1941 she married Charles Nesbit. After 56 years, they were parted by his death in 1997. Together they had five children; moving the family to Urbandale, IA in 1958. Janet and Charlie worked in management sales for Stanley Home Products from 1944-1978. She then began her successful career as a realtor for Iowa Realty until her retirement at age 83. She married Ronald Kerr in 2007.
Janet will be remembered for her beautiful soprano voice, dedication to family, tireless work ethic, hospitality, generosity, and totally unfiltered conversation.
She will be missed by her children, Ronald (Jeanne), Bruce (Ingrid), Kathleen (Richard), Mark, and David (Linda); 11 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brother Billy, her sister Bonnie Wistey, and her husband Charles.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of Hope at 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, IA. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial contributions to the Lutheran Church of Hope Mission Fund.
Tributes
"Dear Janet. I'd hoped you'd be around forever. And actually thought you would be. Coming from a long line of timid women, I watched you with fascination. Thank you for everything you did for me, and believe me, it was a lot. Love, Jeanne"
"There were four of us girls in the old neighborhood and at Christmas time we would go caroling. Janet didn't care how awful we may have sounded she stood there contently watching us. When we were done she always gave us a little something for entertaining her. She was a classy lady."