Janice Marianne Burton

October 28, 1953 – August 15, 2025

Janice Marianne Burton, 71, of Chandler, Arizona, and formerly of Hartley, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Dobson Home (Hospice of the Valley) in Chandler.

Janice was born on October 28, 1953, in Sheldon, Iowa, the daughter of Lambert and Marianne (Ducommun) Mastbergen. She was the second youngest of four children. Her early years were spent on the family farm in Hartley, Iowa, where she developed a deep love for animals, helping raise cattle, goats, and chickens, and assisting with corn and soybean farming. Jan attended elementary through high school in Hartley, where she was an active member of her community and church.

From a young age, Jan was deeply involved in the life of Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. She was confirmed there and sang in both the Cherub Choir, directed by her mother, and later in the church choir. She held many fond memories of her childhood in Hartley, especially the time spent with her beloved Swiss grandmother, Marguerite Ducommun, and her cherished trip to Switzerland to visit extended family.

After high school, Jan studied at the Spencer School of Business in Spencer, Iowa, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. In her early career, she worked as an accounting clerk and nurse aide before relocating to Mesa, Arizona, where she discovered her true passion in residential real estate. Jan became a highly successful real estate agent, founding the Jan Burton Group and assisting many clients—particularly out-of-state buyers relocating to the Phoenix area. Her professionalism and warmth brought her many return and referral clients, as well as a strong team she mentored and led.

Jan met and married the love of her life, Jeffrey Burton, and together they made their home in Chandler, Arizona, for 35 years. Jan embraced life fully—enjoying yoga, camping, international travel, and cruising. She had a lifelong love for animals and was always surrounded by pets, dreaming one day of training a therapy dog. In recent years, she learned knitting and crocheting (with mentoring from her sister, Denise), creating heartfelt gifts for her family and knitting hats for cancer patients using special yarn.

Jan was also a passionate community volunteer. She co-managed the “Food Self Help” meals program with local churches, offering meals and support to those in need. She proudly served for over a decade with the City of Chandler’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), where she trained in disaster response and supported fire department events.

Janice will be remembered for her radiant smile, her generosity, and her remarkable ability to find and share the positive in any situation. Her strength, compassion, and love left a lasting impact on all who knew her.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Jeffrey Burton of Chandler, AZ; her siblings: Lynda (Mastbergen) Bulthuis of LeMars, IA, and Ross (Elaine) Mastbergen of Paullina, IA; her aunt, Idelle Mastbergen of Sheldon, IA; nephews: Sean (Heather) Bulthuis of Chula Vista, CA, and Sidney (Christie) Bulthuis of Rock Valley, IA; nieces: Tiffany (Scott) Zeilenga of Sheldon, IA, Ashley (Shalom) Nwaokolo of Sheldon, IA, and Kelsey (Matt) Kruse of Paullina, IA.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Denise Mastbergen; her parents, Lambert and Marianne Mastbergen; her paternal grandparents, Arie and Carrie Mastbergen; and her maternal grandparents, Charles and Marguerite Ducommun.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Janice’s cremated remains will be interred during a private service at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley, Iowa, in a plot adjoining her parents. A Celebration of Life will was held at the American Legion, Merrell Mitchell Post #39, in Gilbert, Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley or a local animal rescue organization in Jan’s memory.