Janet Ottesen

Janet I. Ottesen passed away Monday evening, February 21, 2022, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, with her family by her side, at the age of 81. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Rev. Dr. Jennifer Edinger officiating. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, one hour before the service, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Janet Irene (Vine) Ottesen was born on December 1, 1940, in Decorah, Iowa to Lloyd and Laura (Landsrud) Vine. She first went to Red Oak country school and then Nordness school. She graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1959. Janet was united in marriage to Kenneth D. Ottesen on October 24, 1959, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. They were happily married for 63 years! This union was blessed with 4 children: Kevin, Kim, Karen and Kristi. Janet is survived by her husband Kenneth; three daughters: Kimberly (Jim) Giardino, Karen (Dan) Drake, and Kristi Haynes; 10 grandchildren: Felicity (Jesse) Pedrick, Danielle (Michael) Hofer, Kendra (Zach) Henning, Ryan (Lindsey) Giardino, Miranda (Trent) Drake, Dylan Drake, Kelsey Haynes, Shannon Haynes, Nicholas Graves, and Dan Graves; 6 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Sarah Ottesen, and special friend Betty Hansen. She was preceded in death her parents, Lloyd and Laura Vine; her son Kevin Ottesen on April 21, 2016; her daughter-in-law Angie Graves Ottesen; her in-laws, Milton and Olga Ottesen; her brother-in-law David Ottesen, and sister-in-law Marlene Ottesen. Janet's greatest joy was the love of her family. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, and if desired, friends may make donations to Decorah Community Food Pantry, P.O. Box 26, Decorah, IA 52101, in memory Janet Ottesen.