Janis Spangard

Janis Spangard passed away at her home North of Bonners Ferry, Idaho on Oct. 31, 2012.

After fashioning His sunflower, God lovingly sent her to Eleanor and Barney C. Hilliard of California on April 3, 1953. She was named Janis.

After college graduation she served for a time with Vista then began a career in law enforcement. During these years she met the love of her life, Jack Spangard. They were married in 1984.

When Janis retired from her career in law enforcement, she began a long time love affair with quilting.

Jack and Janis moved to Bonners Ferry, in 1996. She started her own quilting business and served others til God called her home on Oct. 31.

Janis, an abundant giver, shared not only her talents and expertise, but her time, laughter, and love. She was an avid quilter for Quilts of Valor, an organization that makes and donates quilts to wounded soldiers.

Thousands of quilts, her customer’s and her own, hummed merrily through her machine splashing gorgeous color and love all over the local area, the entire United States, parts of Canada and Australia.

Serving others was second nature to Janis; she never looked for accolades or payment in return but always stayed in the background.

Janis loved to “surprise” others with a gift she had made but would often insist that someone else present the gift so she would not be present when the gift was given.

Janis lived life to the fullest and spilled her sunshine into places where sunshine might be lacking.

Besides quilting, she loved hiking, her dogs, the birds, Shakespeare, music that touched her heart, and sharing a meal with others.

Her wonderful zany sense of humor, quick wit, and contagious laugh will be among the loving memories we hold dear.

Janis is survived by her beloved husband, Jack; her mother, Eleanor Parker of California; her older brother, Barney Hilliard and family of California; her younger brother, Andy Parker and family of California. Numerous friends also mourn her passing.

Your family loves you, Janis, and thanks God for enriching their lives by knowing you, God’s sunflower. They will see you soon.