Janice Louise Blake

Janice L. Blake, of Waterloo, died Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital from Covid 19.

She was born September 15, 1941 in Waterloo, the daughter of Carl and Lydia (Heinemann) Nielsen.

She was a graduate of Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City.

She married Robert L. Blake, Sr. on March 12, 1962 in Preston, Minnesota. He preceded her in death on February 7, 2020.

She worked in housekeeping at both St. Francis and Allen Hospital. She also worked as a deputy at the Black Hawk Sheriff’s Department for many years.

Janice was a member of Burton Avenue Baptist, Hagerman Baptist, and most recently Calvary Baptist Church. Faith was everything to her and her love of Jesus Christ. She loved to study the Bible. She enjoyed baking and crocheting, having made hundreds of afghans over the years. John 3:16 was her favorite Bible verse.

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV – We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Survived by seven children, Donna (Ernie) Melendrez of Toledo, Ohio, Bill (Kay) Blake of Ruthven, Robert (Sheila) Blake, Jr. of Mason City, Ken Adams of Fairbault, Minnesota, Christine (Steve) Benham of Cedar Falls, Janece (Joseph Einertson) Shaffer of Cedar Falls, Troy (Katie) Benham of Marion; 23 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; sister, Jackie (Vince) Steffen of Cedar Rapids; and brother, Richard “Rocky” Nielsen of Waterloo.

Preceded in death by her parents; twin children, Joseph and Mary Blake, two daughters, Cheryl Blake and Theresa Carolus; four brothers, Jim and Donald Nielsen, and Gene and Harold Taylor; and sister, Bernice Gaede.