[Obituary]
Janet Ruth (Conrow) Howland, age 78, a lifetime Manhattan resident, died September 9, 2017, at Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka.
She was born January 24, 1939, in Manhattan, the daughter of Ned and Ruth (Hunter) Conrow.
Janet graduated from Manhattan High School in 1957 and from Kansas State University in 1961 with a degree in business.
Janet was a wife and mother before finding work in Career Planning and Placement at Kansas State University. She worked there for more than 25 years before retiring in 2004. She was awarded the Classified Employee of the Year in 2001 for her work in this department.
Janet, or as she was more commonly known, Grandma Janet, loved the outdoors. She had a beautiful lawn and could often be found outside mowing the grass or weeding flower beds. Evenings and cold winter days spent with family would find everyone gathered around the dining room table playing some type of game. Winning, losing, laughing, it didn’t really matter. It was the time together that made those times fun. Her love for games didn’t end there. She was an avid bowler, played bunko, and from the comfort of her own sofa was a proud supporter of Kansas State University athletics. Janet always said she didn’t have girls, but gained two daughters through marriage. Through those marriages she was blessed with her greatest joy, her grandchildren. She loved having her grandkids and great-grandkids stop by. Whether it was just to say hi, or to move into her basement, she always made time. She attended school programs, ballgames, fundraisers, you name it and she was there. She was generous, kind, and if she disagreed with something, wasn’t afraid to let you know. At the end of the day there was always a finished crossword on the sofa, a daily walk logged, and an empty dish that held her daily treat of ice cream.
She was married to Warren Lee Howland on August 29, 1964. Warren preceded her in death on May 25, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her two sons: Jeff Howland and his wife Tami of Olsburg, KS, and David Howland and his wife Ann of Johnson City, TN; four granddaughters: Taellor Hammeke (Andrew), Bailee Roberts (Trace) Amanda and Maggie Howland; two siblings: Lena Coffman of Minneapolis, KS, and Jack Conrow of Manhattan; three great-grandchildren: Maeby Jae, Holt and Warryn and was anxiously awaiting the birth of her fourth great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan, with her nephew DeWayne Coffman officiating. Friends, family and neighbors are invited to her home following the service for refreshments, conversation, and memories.