Janet M. Richardson

Janet M. Richardson

June 30, 1941 – July 2, 2026

Janet M. Richardson, 85, of Huxley, Iowa, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, at Mill Pond Care Center.

Janet was born on June 30, 1941, on a farm in rural Radcliff, Iowa, to Oscar and Elisabeth Braland. She was a beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose warmth and spirit touched everyone around her.  Janet graduated from Randall High School in 1959 in Randall, IA. 

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Arlo; siblings, Mervin (Nadine) Braland, Alice (Vic) Scales, Lois (Daryl) Luther, William Braland, Joan (Lyle) Williams, Arnold (Char) Braland,  

Janet is lovingly survived by her children, Debbie (Brian) Gorman, Erica (Richardson) Cory, Amy Richardson and Andy (Nicole) Richardson; her cherished grandchildren, Alli (Kirklyn) Kohrt, AJ Cory, JD Dunbar, Harley Runge, Levi Cole, Dawson Richardson and Drew Richardson; sister-in-law, Glenda Braland, along with several beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews  - many of whom she treated as her own.

            A Life Well Lived

Janet worked at Iowa State University in several roles for 30 + years and was an avid Iowa State Cyclones fan!  She could always be counted on to cheer the loudest for her one and only team! She loved nothing more than gathering with family and friends to celebrate a Cyclone game, tailgate, or simply enjoy an afternoon in their backyard. There was always more than enough food, and everyone was welcome. Her cherished recipes and beloved traditions will carry on for generations to come.

Janet met Arlo Richardson through a family connection, and in time, she realized he was everything she had ever wanted in a husband. Together they found great joy in traveling, spending summers in Lake City, Minnesota, enjoying a casino trip or two, and simply savoring life side by side — two people deeply in love. They were married for 32 happy years. Family was at the heart of everything Janet did. Though she and her daughter Debbie shared many early years together, Janet took great pride in the blended family she and Arlo built together.

Thanksgiving was Janet's holiday, and she made it something truly special year after year. It was a time for the family to come together, relax, and reflect. The sharing around the table was sometimes emotional, but it was always meaningful — and both Janet and Arlo would beam with pride and love as they looked around at the family they had built.

Janet will be deeply missed by all who have had the privilege of knowing her. She will continue to guide those she loved with her spunky spirit and gentle love — a presence that will never truly be gone.

Family will greet guests on Sunday, July 12, 2026, starting at 12:30 p.m., prior to her funeral service at 1:00 p.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa.

A private burial will take place at a later date at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com