Janee Anne Lehleitner

Janee Lehleitner, beloved wife and mother died Wednesday, April 17,
2024, at her home in Bethany, MO, with her husband, Bill, her faithful
companion of over 50 years, by her side. She was 69 years old, and she
lived those 69 years to the fullest.

Janee was raised by her mom, Joyce Phelps and her grandparents,
Frank and Alice Cowling, in Kansas City, MO. She enjoyed spending her
childhood summers at the Lake of the Ozarks, where she met many
lifelong friends. She was fiercely independent and learned how to drive
a boat on the lake by the time she was 6 years old.

At the age of 15, she met the love of her life, Bill, at the youth program
at Colonial Presbyterian Church. They married 3 years later and started
a family, while Bill was in school to be a pharmacist. Janee found great
joy in being a mother and then as a grandmother and she considered
this to be her primary vocation. Later in life, Janee worked as the
Director of the Bethany Public Library for several years, before retiring
in 2020.

Janee was a fierce advocate for the underdog and she dedicated her life
to making sure that everyone felt included. She loved hosting and there
was rarely a time that several neighborhood kids weren’t over at the
house for family dinner. Anyone who knew her, knew that she was a
force to be reckoned with and that her life reflected her values.
In her final 7 months, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she
answered her final calling to be an ambassador for her Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. She considered this her most important ministry and felt
honored to share her testimony with anyone who would listen. She
was grateful for every day of her life, but especially for her final
months, where she spent as much time with her family and friends as
she possibly could.

Preceding her in death were her parents, grandparents, aunts and
uncles and her grandson, Sam.

Janee is survived by her husband, Bill, her children, Katie (Chris)
Thomason, Betsy Lehleitner, Ginny Slaughter, Mary (Corey) Boswell,
Kurt (Sasha) Lehleitner, and Kristin (Brent) Everest, as well as
grandchildren, Will (Payton), Ben, Jack Jill, Joey, Zella and Izrael. She
also leaves behind her dogs, Bunson and Mitzi, who were always by her
side.

As she wished, there will be a private family memorial, when we'll
gather to celebrate Jan and the vibrant life she lived. The family
suggests memorials to the Bethany Public Library, 101 N. 15th St.
Bethany, Missouri 64424.