Janice Noell Knutson, 70, passed away Thursday, July 12, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, just before 9 p.m., holding her husband Milt’s hand and with her two daughters present at the time. Her son had just been there the previous day.

Janice was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2005, and it returned in March 2011. In the ensuing 15 months, she selflessly fought a courageous battle to control the cancer with the hope of sharing future memories with her family, especially her 11 grandchildren. Her husband and family supported her. We were blessed to share her life journey and are grateful that she is now at peace.

She was born April 28, 1942, at Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wis., to Norman and Janet Kinneberg. She grew up on the family farm near Rushford, Minn. She graduated from Rushford High School in 1960 and Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, Minn. in 1963. After working two years at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, she married Milton Knutson and they moved to Hutchinson, Minn., where Janice worked as a nursing supervisor of Burns Manor Nursing Home. A daughter, Christine (Chrissy), was born. A job transfer took them to Winnebago, Minn., for the next nine years. A son, David, and a daughter, Susan, were born in nearby Blue Earth, Minn. Then the family moved to Webster City, Iowa, for the next six years. In 1982, the family moved to Atlantic, Iowa, where she and Milt lived for 30 years. Earlier this year they relocated to Coralville, Iowa.

She is survived by her husband, Milt Knutson; daughter, Chrissy Barry (Joe) of Coralville, Iowa; son, David Knutson (Giselle) of Hawthorn Woods, Ill.; and daughter, Susan Knutson-Pourshah (Fred) of Flower Mound, Texas. Also, 11 grandchildren, Chelsea, Justin, Jordan, and Cosette Barry, and Luke, Max, Roy, and Jill Knutson, and Ellie, Emma, and Eva Pourshah. Also surviving are her sister, Sharon Boyum (Ross) and brothers, Norris (Fran), John and Verdale Kinneberg of Minnesota and Michigan. Janice was preceded in death by her parents, and nephews Brian Boyum and Dean Kinneberg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Hands of Compassion (House of Compassion), 840 W Center Street, Rochester, MN 55902, phone (507) 289-6025. Janice stayed there, during her many treatments at the Mayo Clinic.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 20, 2012, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Hockenberry Funeral Home in Atlantic and Friday morning two hours prior to the service. A lunch will be held following the service with a brief time for visiting with family due to travel time needed for the committal service in Van Meter.

Burial will be in the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. Arrangements are with Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, Atlantic, Iowa. Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.