Janet Lee Payne

Janet Lee Payne, 85 of Davenport, passed away peacefully Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at Genesis Medical Center surrounded by her loved ones. A memorial service will be held Friday, January 06, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. at The Runge Mortuary. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service. A private inurnment will be held at Davenport Memorial Park. Per her wishes cremation rights have been accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials on her behalf may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Janet was born Oct. 10, 1931, in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Mildred and Roy Law. She graduated from Burlington High School in June 1949 and married the love of her life, James Payne, the following July. Janet and Jim celebrated 67 years of marriage on July 17, 2016.

Janet was employed by the Davenport Public School System as a teacher’s aide at Garfield Elementary. She retired in 1983 after 16 years of service and was loved and respected by the school’s students, teachers, and staff. Janet was a meticulous homemaker who enjoyed cooking and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. The time she spent with her family was her greatest joy.

Survivors include her husband, James, her children, Nancy L. Rensberger (James), James A Payne Jr. (Ann), Thomas L. Payne (Delores), and Christopher D. Payne (Tracy), all from Davenport. She is also survived by seventeen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, sisters-in-law, Glorianne Eads, Burlington, Annetta Payne, Rapid City, South Dakota, and her special life-long friend, Gloria Delashmutt, Davenport.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Shirley Rowe.