Janice Diane Van Gorp, 89, of Ottumwa died at 2:20 p.m. March 18, 2025 at Good Samaritan Society Ottumwa.
She was born December 20, 1935 in Ottumwa to Harold and Hilda Mary “Polly” Guest Swaim. She married John “Dennis” Van Gorp May 3, 1955.
A 1954 graduate of Ottumwa High School, Janice was a lecturer for Weight Watchers for 10 years. She was an excellent quilter and loved to sew and had operated an upholstery shop out of her home. When Janice and Dennis lived in Osceola for several years, she owned Jan’s Patchworks and later worked for the Sewing House in Ottumwa, retiring in 2016.
Janice enjoyed attending water aerobics and was a member of the Quilting Guild.
Surviving is her husband, Dennis; a son, Brian (Carolyn) Van Gorp of Ottumwa; grandchildren, Neisha (Tristan) Cook of Oskaloosa, Jonathan Cole Van Gorp of Blakesburg and Tamara (Larry) Wheaton of Ottumwa; 2 great-grandchildren, Brett and Kye; and a brother, Dennis Leroy (Sandi) Swaim of Ottumwa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Brett Van Gorp; and a brother, William Harold Swaim.
Visitation will open at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 20th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 21st at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Paris officiating. Burial will be in Brooks Cemetery west of Ottumwa.
Memorials may be made to the Autism Society of Iowa.
