Janice E. Meek

Sioux City – Janice Elleen Meek, 68, of Sioux City was suddenly lifted up to our Lord on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Those she leaves behind mourn her passing, but now she sits at the feet of our Lord Jesus. 

Services will be 10:00 AM Friday, February 2, 2024, at Sunnybrook Community Church in Sioux City. Pastor B.J. Van Kalsbeek will officiate. Burial will be at Fairfield Cemetery in Rock Branch, IA. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, February 1, 2024, at Christy-Smith Funeral Home, Morningside Chapel, 1801 Morningside Ave., with a prayer service at 6:30 PM. 

Janice was born May 24, 1955, in Anthon, Iowa, to Dale and Rosella (Schumann) Behrens. She moved to Sioux City with her family when she was young and graduated from North High School in 1973. On November 17, 1973, she was united in marriage to Richard C. Meek at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa. They made their home in Sioux City and were blessed with three children. Janice worked for 25 years with the Sioux City Community School District as an assistant secretary and retired from Bryant Elementary in October 2021. 

Janice loved spending time with her family and attending activities for all her grandchildren. She enjoyed retirement with her husband, Richard, visiting family and grandchildren, and playing cards together. During football season, you could find her every Saturday cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners. She also enjoyed cooking and baking with her children and grandchildren, her famous peanut butter crisscross cookies were gone before they had time to cool. Janice deeply loved her Lord, teaching Sunday School for many years at Bethany Lutheran Church, later volunteering at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and most recently a member of Sunnybrook Community Church. Janice loved listening to Christian music as it brought her comfort, joy, and closeness with Christ. 

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Richard Meek, and their children, Christopher (Amy) Meek of Sioux City, Ashley (David) Searls of Waukee, and Shanna Meek (Brent Gigaroa) of Sioux City; her siblings, JoAnn (Randy) Borchers of Omaha, Jeanine Simmons of Tekamah, and Duane (Margaret) Behrens of Sioux City; her grandchildren, Brooke Grant, Madison Meek, Taylor Meek, Hadley Meek, Cohen Searls, and Avery Searls. She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Behrens, mother, Rosella Behrens, and brother, Dennis Behrens. 

Pallbearers will be Christopher Meek, David Searls, Brent Gigaroa, Nathan Weise, Noah Behrens, and Ethan Behrens.