Janis Mae Ferguson

Janis Mae Ferguson, 88, of Urbana, Iowa, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church, 316 Vine Street in Center Point. A funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the church with Rev. Thomas C. Van Hemert officiating. Burial will follow at Urbana Memorial Cemetery in Urbana. A luncheon will immediately follow burial at the Urbana Community Center, 102 Capitol Avenue, Urbana. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Center Point is assisting the family.

Janis was born on May 6, 1936, in Benton County, Iowa, to Myron and Elsie (Williams) Knaack. She was baptized on May 31, 1936, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 5, 1949. On April 17, 1955, she married Ronald L. Ferguson at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall, Iowa. A devoted homemaker, Janis dedicated herself to raising her family. She was an active member of the Ruth Circle at St. John Lutheran Church in Center Point, the Urbana Legion Auxiliary, and both the Helping Hands Club and the Birthday Club in Urbana.

Janis had a deep appreciation for nature, enjoying birds, flowers, and gardening. She was very thankful for her church sisters in the Ruth Circle. Janis also loved baking and found great joy in attending her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities. Above all, she cherished time with her family, especially during the holidays and their beloved annual carnival-themed gatherings.

Survivors include her children, Rhonda Elias of Marion, Brian Ferguson of Urbana, and Boyd (Karen) Ferguson of Vinton, and Brad (Kris) Ferguson of Shellsburg, Iowa; 14 grandchildren, Kimberly, Shaun, Jessica, Sadie, Joy, Haley, Megan, Seth, Eli, Will, Emily, Clint, Joshua and Levi; 22 great-grandchildren; brother, Ronald (Nancy) Knaack of Colorado; and her in-laws, Laura Pollock, Charles (Cheryl) Ferguson, Tom (Pat) Ferguson, Nancy Panther, Jack Ferguson, Carol (Bob) Johnson, and Marcia (Bob) Deyen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Myron and Elsie Knaack; her husband of 52 years, Ronald L. Ferguson; son-in-law, Tom Elias; parents-in-law, Glenn and Gladys Ferguson; and her in-laws, Marshall and Virginia Ferguson, Delores and Carl Zieser, Lowell Pollock, Mary and Merle Mollenhauer, Lila West, and Joe Panther.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nursing staff at Virginia Gay Hospital, especially Tammy Madsen and Isabella Hartman, and Janis’s daughter-in-law, Karen Ferguson, for their compassionate care and support.