Janice May Durscher, 88, of Elgin, Iowa, died Thursday, September 18, 2025, at her home in rural Elgin.
Janice was born May 14, 1937 in Sumner Iowa; the oldest child of Charles and Viola (Buhr) Bierman. She graduated from Sumner High School with the Class of 1955. After graduation she started her working career in Waterloo at the Rath Packing Co.
In the Spring of 1959, she was introduced to Donald Durscher of Elgin during a blind date. They were united in marriage on March 19, 1960, at St John Lutheran Church (Buck Creek). They were blessed with four children: Jeffrey, Brenda, Scott and Thomas.
There were not too many kitchens Janice did not like. Over the years she cooked for Meals on Wheels, Bostrom’s Bakery and the West Union Country Club. When she was not sitting in the stands watching her kids and grandkids athletic and academic events, she enjoyed traveling, bridge, sewing, bowling, serving as an election poll watcher and chocolate. She was an active member of Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union for many years.
Janice is survived by her husband of 65 years, Donald; her for children, Jeffrey Durscher of Fayette, Iowa; Brenda (Rodney) Weber of Richfield, Wisconsin; Scott (Anne) Durscher of Waverly, Iowa; and Thomas Durscher of Wabasha, Minnesota. Grandchildren: Nicholas Weber, Andrew Weber, Alex Weber, Kelsie (Jarren) Ford, Austin (Madison) Durscher, Carter Durscher, Tess Durscher and Owen Durscher and great-grandchildren Theodore Durscher and Calvin Durscher. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Arlin (Connie) Bierman of Denver, Iowa; brothers and sister-in-law, Jim Borcherding of Bettendorf, Iowa and Harold (Gail) Durscher of Summerville, South Carolina and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and in-laws John and Celia Durscher; sisters, Verla (Bierman) Ganske and Janet (Bierman) Borcherding and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert Ganske, Clarence and Delphine Durscher.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gunderson Palmer Hospice, West Union, Iowa.
A visitation will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa. There will also be a one-hour visitation before the service at the Church on Wednesday.
Funeral Service will begin10:30 am Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union, Iowa with Rev. Lori Kleppe as the Officiant.
Internment at the West Union Cemetery will follow the service.
Burnham-Woods-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Union, Iowa is assisting the family services.