Jane Royer

Mary Jane Royer was born on December 26, 1940 in rural Neola, IA to Joseph and Hyldabell (Edwards) Papst. Jane passed into the presence of her Lord, Jesus Christ, on October 12, 2024 at her home in Underwood, IA. Jane grew up in the Neola, IA area and was the fifth of seven siblings. She was an active young lady who played competitive softball and basketball in school and graduated from Tri-Center Neola High School in 1959.

Jane married her high school sweetheart, Bert Royer, on March 28, 1959 in Tarkio, MO. Their union was blessed with five children: Jeff, Dave, Don, Beth, and Tom. Jane found great joy in being a devoted housewife/farmer's wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother during and after their 56 years of marriage.

After living in Racine, WI for three years while Bert worked for JI Case, Jane and Bert moved back to southwest Iowa and began their transition to farming in 1964. Jane faithfully and selflessly demonstrated her love by caring for her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her home. She counted these everyday moments as her most meaningful memories. After shifting from farming into semi-retirement in 1995, Jane and Bert moved from the farm to Underwood, IA where they were generous hosts to family, friends, and neighbors - especially every 4th of July. Jane loved to keep a tidy home, work in her gardens and yard, and keep the birds well-watered and fed. She also enjoyed reading, challenging crossword and jigsaw puzzles, playing board games with her grandchildren, and besting her adult children at Wordle. Jane was a long-time member of Saint John's Lutheran Church in rural Honey Creek, Iowa. She found great peace and encouragement in her latter days as she was blessed with a quieter season of life and more time for daily reading of devotions and her Bible.

Jane is survived by her children Jeff (Terry) Royer of rural Neola, IA; Dave (Nancy) Preston-Royer of Portland, OR; Don Royer of Omaha, NE; Beth (Russ) Wagner of rural Underwood, IA; and Tom (Chantill) Kahler-Royer of Fairmont, MN; grandchildren Jessi (Brett) Stephens, Jake Royer, Garrett (Marissa) Sealock, Mason Sealock (Gabrielle Cook), Paul Wagner, Emily Wagner, Elizabeth (Alex) Coopman, and Kim (Ryan) Pavlisich; and great-grandchildren Jane and Josh Stephens, Lilliana and Harper Coopman, and Phineas Sealock; brother Lonnie Papst of Council Bluffs, IA; and many more beloved family and friends.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Hyldabell Papst; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Gertrude Royer; her beloved husband, Bert Royer; grandson, Joshua Royer; daughter-in-law, Brenda Royer; and siblings JoAnne Thordsen, Dennis Papst, Judy Walker, Jerry Papst, and Roselie Papst.