Janice Ruth Mouw

Janice (De Groot) Mouw was born in Ocheyedan, Iowa on March 27, 1940, the youngest of nine children born to Leonard and Jeanette (Vegter) De Groot. She spent her childhood and early adult life in Northwest Iowa. She was influenced greatly by her parents’ and siblings’ strong faith in God, which she accepted with an eager heart as her own. Janice loved her Lord with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength. Janice attended school in Orange City, Iowa and graduated from Northwestern Academy in 1957. It was here she met Warren Mouw, whom she married on May 31, 1957. They enjoyed 42 years of marriage before Warren passed away in 1999. Janice intensely missed Warren in the 26 years she was on this earth without him. We are sure she had a wonderful reunion with him in heaven.

In June of 1960, in order to further his education, Warren and Janice packed up their car and their two oldest children, Vickie and Randy, and moved from Iowa to Pedley, California. Warren graduated from UC Riverside in 1964 and Janice was intensely proud of him and thought him the most intelligent person she knew. Janice dedicated her life to raising their four children and being a helpmeet in every way to Warren.

In 1965, Warren and Janice became partners in a dairy farm with Janice’s brother Bill De Groot. They leased dairies in Southern California, since they never purchased their own land. The dairy business moved to several locations including Ontario, South El Monte, Corona, and Chino. Janice would never shirk from hard work on the dairy and was fully involved with the farm work, while also raising their family. She stayed in the dairy business until the death of her husband in 1999, when she moved to her peaceful home in Ontario. Janice was an incredibly hard worker and never flinched from diving in and getting things done. She helped with anything anyone needed in any way she could.

For the past 27 years, Janice had many health struggles and was truly a miracle of survival. With support from her family, her friends, her church family, and the hand of God, she went through years of cancer treatments, a weakened heart, and kidneys that were failing her. She endured it all with grace and gratitude. She was not without question about the struggles. As she went through the challenges, she relied on many verses from the Bible about fear and anguish, but also the many promises of God.

Janice was an encourager to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was in prayer often for them, as well as so many others in her family and church. Janice loved the USA and many prayers were raised for our leaders and our country. Amidst her health struggles, she often asked God what her purpose was as He kept her here on earth, and she heard the answer: TO PRAY. Her greatest wish is for her family to know the Lord as their Savior, and to serve Him with grateful hearts in all they have been called to do.

Janice served faithfully in her community and also her church, CrossPoint of Chino. She helped in many ways at her church, but the ministry she most enjoyed was cooking for many events at church. For many years she organized and prepared lunches after funerals held at the church. It was a joy for her to help families at the time of their deepest sorrow.

Janice was a gracious hostess and she and Warren welcomed many old and new friends into their home with great food and fellowship. One of her greatest gifts was hospitality and she enjoyed hosting parties, bible studies and meals.

Janice is survived by her four children, daughter Vickie Van Veen of Menifee, CA and her daughter, Angela Reyburn; son Randy Mouw (Rose) of Ontario, CA, and their children Ariel, Travis (Synthia) and Ryan (Kendall); daughter Carla (Marv) Kleinjan of Chino, CA and their children Jesse (Lisa) and Wes (Mary); daughter Sandy (Mark) Moya of Ontario, CA and their children, Derek, Danielle (Garrett), and Autumn (Dylan). She is survived by her 9 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren (Brandon, Micaela, Sydnee, Trever, Blake, Luke, Chase, Warren, Claire, Grant, Lucas, Ava, Collin, Joel, Caleb, Josiah, Micah, Hope, Connor, Holden, Addison, Jordan); sister-in-laws, Marjean De Groot, Cathy De Groot, Joan De Groot, Lois Mouw, Dorothy (Frank) De Boer, Marilyn (Glenn) Westra, Lorene Mouw, Judy Hoogendoorn;, brother-in-laws Leon (Fran) Mouw, Dave Postema, and Glen (Lois) Mouw; a multitude of nieces, nephews and her friends that are like family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Warren; son- in-law John Van Veen; six brothers, John and his wife Sally, Bill and his wife Helen, Clarence and his wife Jeanette, Harold, Harvey, and Leo; two sisters Theresa “Trix” Kuiper and her husband Tony, Clarena Van Gelder and her husband, Dick; brother-in-laws Roger Mouw, Allan Mouw, and sister-in-laws Karen Postema and Cheryl Mouw.

A celebration of life will be held for Janice at Crosspoint Church in Chino, CA at 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 28th. Please past the following link: https://www.crosspointchino.org/mouw into your browser to join the livestream.

In lieu of flowers, the family would love for you to consider a donation to Salem Christian Homes or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.