Jane G. Forte, 97, died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, at the Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Visitation was held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Burial was in the Harrison Cemetery, rural Wapello. Memorials may be made to the West Liberty United Methodist Church.
Jane Geneva Derby was born May 18, 1926, in Wapello, Iowa the daughter of Paul and Edna (Cross) Derby. She was a graduate of Grandview High School in 1943 and A.I.B. in Davenport. Following graduation Jane was employed with Farmall.
On June 6, 1946, she was united in marriage to Richard Forte in Omaha, Nebraska. Jane and Dick had farmed for 2 years and operated the Maid Rite in West Liberty for 2 years. She sold AVON before becoming the editor of the West Liberty Index and later became publisher and editor of the West Liberty Enterprise Newspaper. In 1977 Jane obtained her license to sell real estate and worked with Barn Realty.
She was an active member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and very instrumental in the annual bazaar at the church. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and an avid Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She and Dick enjoyed traveling and spent 32 winters in Lakeland, Florida where she enjoyed the ocean, shelling, activities with so many friends, and welcoming visitors looking for warm weather and fun with Dick and Jane.
She is survived by three children: Jacque (John) Walker of West Liberty, Dennis (Nancy) Forte of West Branch, Connie (Roger) Laughlin of West Branch and daughter in law: Jan Forte of Ankeny. 8 Grandchildren: Jennifer (Jessica) Walker, Sara (Adam) Waldschmidt and Jessica (Bryan) Knudson, Emily Forte, Amber Forte, Tyler Laughlin, Katie (Chris) Juels and Erin Laughlin. 12 great grandchildren: Kassandra, Erica, Airn, William, Whitney, Max, Lauren, Dylan, Charlotte, Lucas, Lyla and Leo. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, son Randy, three sisters: Ruth Elder, Pauline Elliott and Mary Collins and two brothers: Woodrow and Bill.