Janice Ilene Tift

Janice I. Tift, 82, of Newman Grove, NE, passed though heaven's gates on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home, Newman Grove, NE.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Pleasant View Cemetery, Plainview, NE with Rev. Becky Beckmann officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, NE. Covid-19 DHM's will be followed and masks are requested at both the visitation and graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for a later designation and can be sent to P.O. Box 301, Newman Grove, NE 68758.

Levander Funeral Home of Newman Grove, NE is in charge of the arrangements.

Janice Ilene Tift was born on December 7, 1938 in a farmhouse near Creighton, NE to Harold and V. Loretta (Walton) Johnson. In 1945, Janice was baptized and confirmed at Crawford Valley Methodist Church, Plainview, NE. She attended District 62 Dane School in Antelope County and graduated from Plainview High School in 1956.

On November 10, 1957, she was united in marriage to Robert B. Tift at Crawford Valley Methodist Church, Plainview, NE. The couple made their home at Plainview, Ewing, Elgin, and Newman Grove, NE. To this union six children were born.

Janice had a passion for playing cards. Her laughter could be heard from across the house as she yelled "Rummy" or the "hahaha" when she stuck someone playing the card game loved by many family members called "Golf". Many times, she was asked, "Mom are you cheating?" and of course she would always deny it. But we knew. She also had a "lefty" hand in making frickadillies that no one can master her abilities in doing so. She was known to be in the kitchen whipping up a batch of cookies, homemade breads, cinnamon rolls, or a Sunday get together dinner consisting of roast, potatoes, carrots, and always bread and gravy for dessert.

Janice had a green thumb when it came to gardening, her shelves filled with homemade canned goods. She loved being outdoors where she was either camping and roasting marshmallows over an open fire or exploring with the grandkids finding treasures. She was a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother. She would always tell her loved ones, "I love you a bushel and a peck, I love you like the heck."

Janice will be missed by so many and was loved by everyone she met. She will live on in our hearts and never be forgotten.

Janice is survived by her children: Gary Tift of Illinois; Karen Cleland of Lodi, CA; Greg Tift of Newman Grove, NE; Gail Tift of Texas; Cindy Geilenkirchen of Creston, NE and special family friend Neil Geilenkirchen of Lindsay, NE; Crystal (Erik) Hollmann of Platte Center, NE; 25 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister: Linda Altwine of Billings, MT; brother: Harlan (Peggy) Johnson of Ellisville, MO; sister-in-law: Joyce McManigal of Stanton, NE; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Robert; son-in-law: Kenneth Cleland; brother-in-law: Dick Altwine; and nephew: Rodney Wintz.