Janeth Ann Puerner

Janeth Ann Puerner passed peacefully at home in Litchfield, Arizona on September 10th, 2026, at the age of 96, surrounded by loved ones. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose warmth touched everyone who knew her, and she will be deeply missed.

Janeth was born August 21, 1930, in La Grande, Oregon, to Fred and Carrie Jones. As a young girl she liked spending time outdoors, loved music, and marching with her tenor saxophone in the Rose Bowl Parade. She went on to attend Eastern Oregon University before beginning the next chapter of her life.

On December 8, 1952, she married Robert Armand Puerner. Together they built a life full of adventure, and for more than twenty-four years Janeth proudly stood beside Bob as a military wife, supporting their growing family through service.

Janeth wore many hats throughout her working life. She got her start as a pin-setter in a bowling alley — a fitting beginning for a woman who would go on to bowl for the rest of her life. She later worked as a telephone operator, in retail, and as the bookkeeper for the family business, Bob's Subaru Repair Shop. Her heart for others also led her to volunteer as an ombudsman, advocating for the elderly with the same compassion she showed her own family.

Bowling was more than a pastime for Janeth — it was a lifelong passion. She competed in state and national tournaments, coached youth bowlers, and continued to bowl until she was 93 years old, passing her love of the game down through generations of her family.

Janeth and Bob were true adventurers at heart. Riding together as members of H.O.G. (the Harley Owners Group), they traveled by motorcycle across the country, proudly completing an unforgettable journey from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine. Along the way, their adventure took them across Canada and through every state in the continental United States over the course of their travels. Together, they explored countless national parks and made a cherished tradition of photographing barns wherever the road took them.

More than anything, Janeth treasured her time with her grandchildren. She taught them to bake, embroider, and see the world, and she loved nothing more than an afternoon spent coloring together. Her faith in Christ was central to her life, and she found deep joy in attending church and in the fellowship of the community she found there.

Janeth is survived by her five children: Becky (Jim) Taylor, Mike (Elana) Puerner, Bobbi (Tom) Boutwell, David (Sarah) Puerner, and LeAnn Higgs, along with 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren who carry her spirit forward. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and her daughter, Linda Bridgmond.

We will miss her warm hugs, her thoughtful gifts, and the quiet, steady love she gave so freely to everyone around her. Janeth Ann Puerner lived a full and beautiful life, and her memory will remain a treasured gift to all who loved her.