Obituary of V. Eloise January

V. Eloise January, age 91 of 701 Oaknoll Drive, Iowa City, died Tuesday, November 18, 2003 at Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City. There will be a time of gathering for family and friends from 4 to 7p.m., Friday, November 21, 2003 at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Eloise’s memory to Oaknoll Foundation @ 701 Oaknoll Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52246. Virginia Eloise Taylor January was born June 18, 1912, in Sidney, Ohio the daughter of Henry C. and Bernice M. (McMannamy) Taylor. She graduated from Sidney, Ohio High School, received her RN Degree from Ohio State University in 1934 and later her BS degree from the College of Education at the University in 1937. She married Dr. Lewis E. January on September 13, 1941 in Iowa City. Eloise was a nurse at the Cleveland City Hospital in Cleveland, OH, and at the Grant Hospital in Columbus, OH, before coming to Iowa City in 1938 where she became associated with the University of Iowa Hospitals, and the School of Nursing at the University. Here she was a teaching supervisor in the Isolation Unit, and instructor at the School of Nursing, being the first faculty member in the school to have a college degree. Upon the onset of World War II, she along with her son, Alan accompanied her husband, Dr. January during his military service at five different Army Air Force bases throughout the United States. Following the war, the January family returned to Iowa City where Eloise raised her family and was very active in numerous volunteer activities throughout the community and the University. When her children were in elementary school at Lincoln Elementary School, she was active in PTA and Cub Scouts. She did much volunteer work for the Visiting Nurses Association, Unitarian Church, Pan American League, and countless fund raising efforts, particularly for the American Heart Association. She was the co-chairman of the Citizens Committee to build Southeast Junior High School, co-manager of the first Goodwill Store in downtown Iowa City. Her love of art and theatre was evident in her time spent with the University Museum of Art, Iowa Friends of the Jeffrey and Dance Focus of Iowa City. But her passion for volunteer service was most evident in her time spent with the University of Iowa Hospital Volunteer Program. She was one of the co-founders of this program in 1972, serving on the board of directors. Eloise was the third person to receive her “1000” hour pin for her service. Today this program is the foundation of service to families using the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Her family includes two sons and their wives, Alan and Ann January of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Dr. Craig and Marilyn January of Madison, Wisconsin; and two granddaughters, Kathleen and Anna January of Madison. Eloise was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Lewis E. January, October 8, 2002; and seven siblings.