Janice Lee Cornwell, 87, of Branson, formerly of Ames, passed away peacefully at her home on June 15, 2026.
Funeral services for Janice Cornwell will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa, 50010. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Monday. Burial will follow at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Born on October 13, 1938, in Kansas City, Missouri, Jan was the daughter of Hanzel and Ethal Opel O'Dell. She grew up in the region and married her husband, James Cornwell, on April 20, 1957, in Excelsior Springs while he was attending college in Maryville, Missouri.
As a dedicated partner and mother, Jan followed Jim's career with Montgomery Ward across several states. In 1967, the family settled in Ames, Iowa, where they remained until their retirement and subsequent move to Branson, Missouri. Jan's life was defined by her devotion to her family and her resilience through life's many chapters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Mark Stephen Cornwell, and her sister, Joyce Doerr.
Jan's memory will be cherished by her husband of 69 years, James; her daughte...[more]