Memorial
Janet V. Falkenstein, 75, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids due to organ failure. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Janet was born on February 28, 1950, in North Bend, Oregon the daughter of Clifford and Gladys (Brenning) Smith. She lived an active and fulfilling life. Although she was born in Oregon, she spent much of her childhood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1968 and began her adult life. She relocated to Virginia and met and married her husband, Kurt, in 1984.
Although Janet never had children of her own, she was a warm and loving care giver to the children of her stepdaughter, and her home was always open to those family members who needed a place to stay in times of trouble. She was a dedicated daughter and caregiver for her parents when they needed her most and she relocated from Windsor, Virginia to Cedar Rapids to care for them when they approached end of life.
During her life, Janet held a variety of administrative positions, beginning with the Cedar Rapids Board of Education and later serving as Executive Assistant to the President of Liebherr-America in Newport News, Virginia. She also worked as a Marketing Manager for a chain of motels both within and outside of Virginia.
Janet loved music and enjoyed playing Bridge. While married to Kurt, she joined the church choir wherever they lived in Virginia, Georgia, and Iowa. During their time in Windsor, Virginia, she learned to play Bridge, and upon returning to Cedar Rapids, she became an active member of several card groups.
Janet is survived by her loving husband and partner of 41 years, Kurt Falkenstein; her grandsons, Will Devlin, Michael Devlin, and Alexander Brown; her great-grandchildren, Lilly and Olivia Devlin; her sisters, Sherry Cobb and Caroline Dick, and her brother, Jerry Smith; her nieces and nephews, Kelly (Chris) Wygant, Kevin (Mandy) Cobb, Shawn Curtis, Noah, Kayla, and Elizabeth Smith, Nathan Hollis, Katherine Shimkat and Alexander Dick; as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Gladys Smith, and her stepdaughters, Robin Brown of Mobile, Alabama, and Rebecca Bladorn of Yorktown, Virginia.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Gardens of Cedar Rapids and Mercy Hospice for the compassionate care they provided to Janet.
Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.