Jan Rae Ellis

January 9, 1948 - December 7, 2021

Jan Rae Ellis of Urbandale, age 73, passed away peacefully while surrounded by loved ones the morning of Tuesday, December 7, 2021. Jan was a vibrant woman with an infectious laugh and a zest for life rivaled by none. If she wasn’t on the dance floor, you could find her attending the latest production at the local event center. She loved to travel and could fill a small house with her many pictures chronicling her adventures with friends, family, and coworkers. Her one true love was life itself, and that love shone through in all she did, brightening the lives of everyone she met. Jan worked for Compressor Controls Corporation for 26 years as a secretary and event planner. She loved her job and made many lasting friendships during her time with the company. Outside of work Jan has a large community of friends and family. In fact, Jan was so well-loved that she couldn’t go to the grocery store without running into someone she knew, turning a 15-minute trip into a 50-minute one. Jan is survived by her only daughter, Teri Barney, and her two granddaughters, Allison Campbell and Amber Barney. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Eleanor and Dale Ellis of Sioux City, Iowa. A Celebration of Jan’s Life will be 2PM, Friday, December 17, 2021 at the Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be from noon until service time with cremation to follow service. Memorial contributions may be made to the family, in loving memory of Jan. All floral deliveries may be made to Merle Hay Funeral home.