Janis Hinrichs

Marengo- Janis Carolyn Paulson was born on Sunday April 7, 1929, in Albert Lea Minnesota to Ruben & Hattie (Halverson) Paulson. Her father owned several banks which began to fail during the Depression. His health also began to fail, so his friends, the Mayo brothers, convinced him to find another line of work. Losing much of their wealth & possessions, the family moved to Marengo Iowa when Janis was 5 and started all over.

They found a small upstairs apartment and Ruben (R.C.) began his Bookkeeping business. Janis learned about this business by helping her father while in High School, which she carried on for the next 67 years. Life was simple, money was hard to come by, and Janis dreamed of having a home large enough to invite her friends to come over.

Janis’s love for singing began in grade school. She sang solos in High School & found continued enjoyment singing with the church choir, the Believers choir & her most cherished Sweet Adeline's for 50 years.

After High School, Janis worked for Farmers Home Administration and later moved to Iowa City & worked at the district office of the Soil Conservation Service until she married Gary Hinrichs on December 27, 1950. Being a city gal, the move to the farm in Lincoln Township was a huge change. Card playing was the favorite social gathering so it was no surprise years later it would lead to her love of the game of Bridge. Janis made & kept lifelong friendships with her neighbors and finally had a home to care for.

Farming was not very profitable and after several back surgeries for Gary, the hard decision was made to sell the farm & move to Marengo. There they found a 14-room home large enough to raise their family and be the home she dreamed of. Tending her many flower beds became her little oasis of joy.

Janis was never at a loss for things to do. She cherished her faith, family & friends and took an active role in volunteering for causes she believed in. She could always be seen leading the July 3rd celebrations, events at church, the Ragbari visits to town, Kiwanis events & working at the Hospital Gift Shop. She loved going “bumming” with her sister Margie Jane and she & Gary didn’t miss many antique auctions.

She loved watching sports especially if it involved her Duke Blue Devils. Traveling was another passion of hers. Her organizational skills & attention to the details made the planning as enjoyable as the vacation itself.

Janis passed peacefully to join her family in heaven on Sunday January 4, 2026.

She is survived by her four children: Pamela Olerich of Jefferson, IA., Stuart (Beverly) Hinrichs of San Clemente, CA., Kurt (Alice) Hinrichs of Smithville, MO., and Heidi McKay of Cedar Rapids, IA.; six grandchildren: Kyle (Dani) Orris of Ames, IA., Rachel (Daniel) Abate of Wylie, TX., Jamie Hinrichs of Oakhurst, CA., Rebekah (Carter) Price of Westbrook,CT., Christian Hinrichs and Caroline (Fiancé Tristan Pankratz) Hinrichs of Smithville, MO., four great grandchildren: Aria and Kora Abate, Elsie Orris and Tessa Price. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, grand daughters Corrie and Sarah Hinrichs, a sister Margie Jane and a brother Robert Paulson.

A Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Saturday, January 10, 2026, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Marengo. Burial will be at 1:00pm Saturday at St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery in rural Victor. The service will be livestreamed @St.JohnsMarengo. Visitation will be Friday, January 9, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Marengo. A memorial fund has been established for St. Johns Lutheran Church in Marengo. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Services are caring for Janis and her family.