Gale and Janet Underwood

Gale and Janet Underwood

Fairfield

On Friday, February 28, 2025, Gale and Janet Underwood passed away peacefully from natural causes, leaving this world to be together forever.

Gale Harry Underwood was born on September 20, 1935, to Howard and Myrtle (Wachutka) Underwood, at the Ordinance Plant in Danville, Iowa. Growing up, Gale developed a love for hunting and fishing, and became a skilled auto mechanic, learning the trade from his father. After graduating from Burlington High School, Gale enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he discovered he was colorblind, preventing him from becoming a pilot. However, his mechanical talents led him to become an instructor, traveling across the U.S. to teach pilots how to repair and maintain their planes.

Janet Lea Smith was born on February 9, 1939, to John and Bernice Alberta (Fink) Smith in Fairfield, Iowa. She grew up in Libertyville, Iowa, where she helped raise her younger siblings and worked at her family’s, Smith’s Tavern. At Libertyville High School, she was part of the champion LHS girls’ basketball team. After graduation, Janet pursued a career in nursing at the Burlington School of Nursing, run by nuns, where she met Gale. While home on leave, Gale went on a blind date with his best friend and his friend’s girlfriend, which led him to meet the love of his life, Janet. They were married on June 11, 1961, in Burlington and began their family before moving to a farm in Libertyville in the early 1970s.

Gale’s experience in the Air Force sparked a lifelong passion for teaching. He began his 30-year career as an auto mechanic instructor at Southeastern Community College when the school opened. Along with his teaching career, Gale also farmed in Libertyville. After retiring, he developed a passion for cooking, baking, and canning, specially making sauerkraut, BBQ ribs, and Amish bread, which he loved to share with family and friends. Gale also enjoyed woodworking, and one of his proudest accomplishments was creating a grandfather clock for each of his three grandsons.

Janet’s dedication to nursing continued throughout her career. After teaching at Southeastern Community College, she became a Health Care Coordinator at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, until her retirement in 2000. In addition to helping Gale with farming and raising livestock, Janet was a woman of many talents, including cake decorating, sewing and quilting, candle making, crocheting, and camping. Above all, she cherished spending time as a grandmother and took her grandsons on many camping trips. She created beautiful, hand-crocheted blankets for her grandsons, with the final king-sized, super-soft blankets taking hundreds of hours to complete.

Gale and Janet are survived by their daughter Dawn (Tom) Frisch of Turtle Lake, WI; grandsons Jack (Jordan Ray) Kennedy of Commerce City, CO, Jared (Kailey Bak) Kennedy of Bloomington, MN, and Justin (Kate Sosa) Kennedy of Minneapolis, MN. Janet’s siblings, Joneane (Gene) Parker of Libertyville, IA, John (Angie) Smith of Morning Sun, IA, Jeanne (Steve) Meyers of Fairfield, IA, and Jay (Debbie) Smith of Winter Springs, FL; and Gale’s brother, Larry (Nancy) Underwood of San Antonio, TX, along with many nieces, nephews, and dear friends, especially the Strickland family.

They were preceded in death by their parents, their baby daughter Brenda Kay, son Bryan, son-in-law Bob Kennedy, and niece Ashley (Meyers) Manning.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family will be redirecting any monetary memorials to the hospice that provided such compassionate and loving care to Gale and Janet in Northwest Wisconsin. Their support was truly a Godsend.

A Celebration of Life for Gale and Janet will be held on Friday, April 18, from 4:00-7:00 PM at Cranston Funeral Home, 2805 W Burlington, Fairfield, IA 52556. A private family burial is planned.