Janita C. Abbas

Janita C. Abbas

Janita C. Abbas
September 20, 1958 – October 7, 2022
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 64

Janita Carol (Brennecke) Abbas, 64, of Oskaloosa, IA, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, October 7, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospital. Janita was born on September 20, 1958, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Frank and Eloise (Drake) Brennecke.

Janita graduated from Ackley-Geneva High School in 1976. She received a BSN and RN degree from Mt. Mercy College and worked briefly as a pediatric nurse in Milwaukee, WI, and St. Luke’s in Sioux City, IA.

On September 11, 1982, she was united in marriage to Bryce Abbas at Washington Reformed Church in rural Ackley, IA. Bryce and Janita began their married life in Sheldon, Iowa, where they became parents to three daughters: Ariann, Amy, and Cassie. The family later moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1996.

Janita was an excellent homemaker. Her cooking was simply the best. She was passionate about making food that was both delicious and healthy. When you walked into her home for a family meal, “it smelled like the Cracker Barrel”. Her family lovingly teased her about how she tweaked recipes, writing so many changes in the margins that it was nearly impossible for anyone else to make it as she had. She also loved to be creative in other ways: flower gardening, decorating her home for each season, photography, posting on her blog, cross-stitching, and sewing, to name a few. Early on, she sewed many of her clothes and clothes for her children. She was an exceptionally talented quilter, and Janita devoted her attic space to this favorite hobby. She spent countless hours in “her workshop,” as one grandchild called it. Most quilted creations had a handwritten message in the corner, such as: “Every day, give love away! Love Nanny”, “Remember, I love you!” and “I love you forever!”.

Janita loved children and her family. Her grandchildren called her “Nanny”, and she called them her “sweet lovey-dovies”. She made time for playing in the snow together, baking cookies, taking them to the fair, and teaching them how to sew. Janita made a point to welcome other children into her home over the years and sponsored two children from Compassion International for many years. She had a special love for her nieces and nephews, her sons-in-law, and her daughters. She and her daughters could laugh and laugh and laugh together.

The simple things in life brought great joy to Janita: the American flag, tulips, Dutch costumes, strawberries, quilts, attending the What Cheer Flea Market, and the changing seasons in Iowa were some of her favorites. Janita had many endearing idiosyncrasies, including washing and reusing ziplock “baggies”, yelping, “OUCH!” when she dropped something, swirling her beverage cup while in conversation, keeping her Christmas tree up until May, and having a lead foot when running late to church. She had dozens of journals around the house. You could find random recipes, Bible verses, to-do lists, phone numbers, sermon notes, quilting designs, and other shorthand chicken scratch in each journal.

Janita lived a life of faith and serving the Lord. While attending Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon, she sang in the choir and led children’s Sunday School, Bible School, and youth group with Bryce. In Oskaloosa, she was an active member of the Central Reformed Church. There, Janita started a scripture memorization class and was a GEMS leader for several years. At home, she was a prayer warrior. She had a large closet where she read her Bible, prayed, and spent time with the Lord. She and Bryce also had a daily devotional and prayer time together. In 2017, Bryce was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Janita faithfully served and cared for him until August 2022, when she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Janita’s memory will be cherished by her husband, Bryce of Oskaloosa; her three daughters: Ariann (& Billy) Blake of Oskaloosa, Amy (& Brant) Ver Meer of Montezuma, and Cassie Abbas of Oskaloosa; her beloved grandchildren: Emerson, Mackenzie, Alexis, Baby Blake, Addilyn, Clayton, Vivian, and Jordyn. Her siblings also survive Janita: Dan (& Sandy) Brennecke of Grand Junction, CO, Jackie Brennecke of Richmond, VA, Jeanie (& Andrew) Cook of Fort Dodge, Doug Brennecke of Winterset, Elaine (& Jim) Moats of Hampton, and a sister-in-law, Marlene (& Larry) Luiken of Chatfield, MN.

She is preceded in death by her parents and a miscarried daughter, Celeste.

Per her wish, Janita’s body has been cremated, and private family services will occur at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, condolences and memorials may be made to the Janita Abbas Memorial, to be designated at a later date, and may be sent to her husband: Bryce Abbas, Oskaloosa Care Center, 605 State Highway 432, Oskaloosa, IA, 52577.

Langkamp Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with Janita’s final arrangements.