Memorial
Jean Ann (Jan) Todd went to be with Jesus on September 24, 2021.
She was born on August 20, 1949, to Kenneth and Barbara Gates in Blythe, California. Shortly after they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where Jan lived until she was 10. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico but only stayed for a year and returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During middle school she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a church camp. After graduating from George Washington High School, she attended Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids.
She met and fell in love with Len Todd at a church singles group. On January 3, 1970 they were married. They moved to Oklahoma City where Len was stationed in the Air Force where she did clerical work.
After Len was discharged, they moved back to Cedar Rapids.
Jan and Len decided to become foster parents and cared for 12 children.
She and Len had four of their own children. She thoroughly enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and volunteering for various organizations such as La Lech League, Concerned Women for America, Boy Scouts, vacation bible school, AWANAS and her children’s school activities. As a family they loved going to Woman Lake in Minnesota and were long time members of Cedar Valley Bible Church.
Jan returned to work by becoming the Athletic Director and French teacher at Cedar Valley Christian School which she loved. After retirement Jan enjoyed volunteering for the Marion Auxiliary, taking cruises and enjoying her 14 grandchildren. Jan loved her family immensely. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, two nephews, and her brother-in-law. She is survived by her husband Len, her children Alex (Jean) Todd, Lynne (Steve) Diggins, Katie (Josh) Petersen, Mary (Ben) O’Malley, her foster daughter Huê (Tai) Le, her 14 grandchildren, her sisters and bother Joe (Lori) Gates, Julie Cantonwine, Jennifer (Angelo) Lopez, her aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial fund will be established in Jan’s memory.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Cedar Valley Bible Church in Cedar Rapids with Joel DeSousa and Tom Fogle officiating. Private Entombment will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, September 27 from 4-7 PM at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.