Janice C. Bashara

Janice C. Bashara

Janice C. Bashara, of Bennington, NE, passed away peacefully at home on June 18th, after a long battle with stroke and cancer. She had just celebrated her 87th birthday with family at her side.

Jan was born in Grimes, IA, and was proud of her Iowa farm girl heritage and upbringing. She was an active 4H member and a gifted artist, and she received her bachelor's in art education from Drake University in 1961.

She met her future husband, Dr. T. R. "Bob" Bashara, while in college, and they married in 1962. Jan worked as an art teacher in Ames, IA, while Bob completed his final year in veterinary medicine at Iowa State University. After stints in San Antonio, Pittsburgh, and Chicago, while Bob served in the Army, the couple moved to Omaha, where Jan taught art in the District 66 schools. After starting a family, the couple opened the Plum Tree, a gift shop at Westroads Shopping Center, in 1970, and Jan ran the store for 30 years.

After retiring, Jan's creativity exploded. She loved throwing parties, large and small, and designed invitations, and menus for many gatherings with family and friends. She painted murals for her grandkids, illustrated a children's book (still to be published), painted, took photos, sketched from nature, and designed and made jewelry from a collection of beads and stones she hand selected. Her eye for beauty was never at rest, and her taste, in everything from art to clothes to interior design, was refined yet always winked at whimsy.

Jan loved to travel, and she and Bob spent many winters in Carmel, CA, visiting their good friend, the singer and actress, Doris Day. Jan loved the Pacific Ocean and Carmel's famous dog beach, and she, Bob, and their beloved Maltese dogs thoroughly enjoyed sightseeing, shopping, entertaining, eating out, and visiting with their friends in the area.

Jan is survived by Bob, her husband of 62 years; children, Stacey Bashara-Stearns (Randy) of Chicago, IL; Dr. Peter C. Bashara (Andrea) of Elkhorn, NE, Matthew R. Bashara (Stephanie) of Kallispell, MT; grandchildren, Alexander and Victoria Bashara, Ella, Ava and Autumn Bashara, and Trevor and Ainsley Olsen; sister, Joann Noble of Grimes; and many dear nieces and nephews.

VISITATION: Monday, June 23rd, 5 p.m., at West Center Chapel, with CELEBRATION OF LIFE REMARKS at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: Robert and Janice C. Bashara Scholarship Fund at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://isuf.my.site.com/portal/s/give (search for "Bashara" and the family fund will come up); St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: https://stjude.org/donate (select "dedicate your gift" then "in memory" of Jan Bashara); Doris Day Animal Foundation: https://ddaf.org/donate (select "dedicate this donation" then "in memory" of Jan Bashara.

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler

West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Rd.

402-391-3900 | www.heafeyheafey.com