Janis McDowell died December 10, 2005 after an 18-month battle with cancer. She was born in Waterloo, Iowa and is survived by her mother, Adele McDowell of Des Moines; four siblings, John and Christine McDowell of Chamberlain, South Dakota, Jane Kristin McCarver of Atlanta, Georgia, Frank and Marilyn McDowell of Worthington, Minnesota, Betsy McDowell and Paul Sisney of Salem, Oregon; and seven nieces and nephews. Her father, Frank preceded her in death in 1993.

Janis was a 1968 graduate of Decorah High School. She received her undergraduate degree in German from Central College in Pella, and a Master’s degree in English as a Second Language at the University of Northern Iowa. Her career began teaching high school German in Le Mars, Iowa. She spent most of her life abroad, advancing her teaching career in Tehran, Iran, Berlin, West Germany, Vienna, Austria and Taipei, Taiwan. She possessed unique personal style, was an accomplished linguist, and had a passion for music, opera, Renaissance art, literature and cuisine. She traveled extensively during in her life and organized numerous European trips for her students, encouraging them not only to excel academically, but to realize their full human potential. Janis shared her love of adventure with her colleagues, students, friends and family.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 17, at the First United Methodist Church, 10th and Pleasant, Des Moines, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, tributes may be made to Des Moines Metro Opera, 106 W. Boston Avenue, Indianola, IA 50125; Southern Poverty Law Center, P.O. Box 588, Montgomery, AL 36101-0548; or the Heifer Project.