Janel Gertrude (Leiphart) Elya Graves Bower

Gladstone, MI
Janel Gertrude (Leiphart) Elya Graves Bower, age 79, of Gladstone passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising.

Janel was born September 26, 1934 in Munising, the daughter of Willis and Dorothy (Heckathorn) Leiphart. She was raised in Munising and graduated from the Munising High School. Janel worked as a home health aide for many years and enjoyed helping people. Janel eventually moved to Gladstone to be closer to her family. She was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, a Senior Companion with Community Action Agency and enjoyed working with the Care and Touch organization.

Janel is survived by four daughters, Tammy (Milo) Peacock of Perkins, Wendy (Duane) Wils of Gladstone, Colleen Johnson of Deadwood, SD and Cheri (Mark) Lake of Escanaba; one son, Gerald “Don” Elya of Escanaba; 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren; two brothers, David (Roxy) Leiphart of Stephenson and Tim (Sheri) Leiphart of Daggett; her twin sister, Janet (the late Ronald) Shepherd of Powers, sisters, Billie (the late Carl II) Lindquist of Munising and Dottie (Robert Hermanson of Sayner, MI and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Gideon Graves, her grandson, Roderick Peacock, her parents, her first husband, Gerald Don Elya, her second husband, Ronald Peter Graves and her brother, Gideon Leiphart.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 24 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Gladstone. Memorial Services will follow at 6:00 PM at the church with Rev.Duane Wils officiating. Janel will be laid to rest in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.