Jane Elizabeth West

Jane Elizabeth (Cox) West of Des Moines, IA, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025 at 96 years old. Jane was born on September 26, 1929, to Oliver and Bertie (Ziegler) Cox in Trenton, MO. The family later settled in Des Moines where Jane graduated from East High School.

Jane married William L. West and together they had three children. She later married L. Kim West, and they had two children together.

Jane was one of six siblings, and they were a very close family throughout their lives. Every Sunday night all of the siblings, spouses and grandchildren would converge at "Granny and Gramp's house" for dinner and lots of laughter. She also cherished the many trips over the years with her children up to her brother Bud's cabin on Long Lake in MN. One of her favorite days of the summer was the annual extended family gathering to celebrate her Mom's birthday at her brother Tom's house. Good food, laughter and someone getting thrown in the pool fully clothed were always on the agenda that day.

Jane had a beautiful voice and sang in the church choir for many years and was often asked to sing at weddings and funerals. She and her only sister Mary Lou, who often sang with her, had to be very careful, however, not to look at each other while singing because they would invariably get the giggles.

The church was Jane's second home, and her faith was very important to her. She somehow managed to get all five children to Sunday school and church every Sunday. Jane and Kim enjoyed the fun and companionship of their Sunday school class at West Des Moines Christian Church and all the cherished friendships made over the years.

Jane and Kim loved to travel and took many fun camping trips around the country, first in a tent and later in a pop-up camper. They also were able to go on many wonderful international company trips through Kim's dealership. Jane also enjoyed many family camping trips around the country with her brother Bill's family and visiting her sister in Wisconsin.

Jane was a great cook and a homemade meal with dessert was on the table every night in their long time Beaverdale home. She made sure that every birthday and Christmas was special and stayed up after everyone had gone to bed every Christmas Eve baking her famous cheesecake. She also made sure at Christmas that all the stockings were filled to the brim and multiple packages under the tree for each child. To eliminate package snooping with so many gifts and so many nosy kids, she came up with the idea of putting specific bow colors on each gift instead of names. On Christmas Eve she would pin the bow color on the bottom of each kid's stocking, it was very exciting to finally find out what your color was that night!

She was also well known for her spaghetti dinners when she would make her sister-in-law Mae's family pasta recipe with homemade meatballs. When her children were grown and she would put the word out that it was spaghetti night it was always a full house. Many would show up the next day for cold meatball sandwiches which were somehow even better than the night before.

She also was a very talented seamstress and made almost all of her daughters' clothing- from matching Easter dresses every year to high school dance dresses and even all her daughters' bridesmaid's dresses. She could make beautifully designed dresses without even using a pattern. Her daughters, however, did not inherit this talent despite her many lessons.

In her later years as a widow, Jane enjoyed her time living at McAuley Terrace and appreciated the many friendships she made there. She was always up for Happy Hour and cards with her wonderful friends there who made daily life fun.

Jane loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always very excited to see them in person or to hear what they were up to. We will all miss her sassiness, laughter and love.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband of 49 years, L. Kim West, son Rob West, and two grandsons, Ryan Davidson and Nathan West. She is survived by her children: Leah (Mark) Scherer, Bill West Jr, Liz (Marc) Ward, Amy (Kirby) Davidson, and daughter-in-law Debora West. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The family appreciates the loving and compassionate care that Jane received at Calvin Community and through Suncrest Hospice in her final weeks.

A private family service will be held at a later date.