Janet Barnes passed away peacefully at home on July 20, 2026, at the age of 91, with family by her side. She was the loved wife of the late John “Jack” Barnes, M.D., her husband for 58 years, an energetic mother of nine children, devoted grandmother of twelve grandchildren, and loving great-grandmother of eight great-grandchildren. Her life was defined by an unwavering Catholic faith, deep love for her family, generous friendships, and a gift for making everyone she met feel seen and valued.
Born in Omaha, Neb., to Stanley and Rosalie Tomsheck, Janet attended St. John’s Grade School and Mercy High School and worked at Mutual of Omaha. She often told the story of seeing Jack across the room at a party and knowing that he was “the one.” Seven months later, on May 12, 1956, they were married at St. John’s Church on Creighton University’s campus. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Seattle, Wash. during Jack's Naval service. They returned to the Midwest, first to Woodbine and later to Missouri Valley, where they raised nine children before eventually returning to Omaha in 1997.
Janet will be remembered for her enduring kindness, listening heart, and gentle humor. Whether talking with longtime friends, restaurant servers, or someone she had just met at church, she wanted to know their story. Her warmth transformed ordinary encounters into lasting connections. Family members still smile remembering the bouquet of flowers she later delivered to the DMV employee who helped her pass the Nebraska driver's license test. She developed friendships with the staff at M's Pub and Jams in Omaha, where she and Jack faithfully enjoyed Wednesday evening date nights. She naturally formed bonds with employees at Walgreens, Baker’s, Panera, Von Maur, and Talbots, to name a few.
Janet and Jack were the inaugural chairs of Creighton University's Parent Council and enthusiastically welcomed new families into the university community where seven of their children and four grandchildren graduated. They were season ticket holders of Creighton men’s basketball for over five decades. Janet knew every usher by name and became quick friends with everyone seated in her section. Cheering on Bluejay basketball became a cherished family tradition spanning generations.
Janet’s quiet but steadfast faith was the foundation of her life and the source of her remarkable compassion, resilience, and hope. She was actively involved at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Missouri Valley, serving as a eucharistic minister and on the church and school board. Janet was one of the first members of the Servants of Mary Associates’ program, lay ministers working alongside the sisters. After returning to Omaha to be closer to family, Janet and Jack belonged to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Janet attended daily mass and established the 'Women of the Well,' a circle of women who prayed together, celebrated life's blessings, and carried one another through hardship.
The happiest chapters of Janet's later years were alongside Jack in Lake Okoboji on their annual family summer vacation. Janet was perfectly content in a lawn chair with a bowl of homemade frosting or a Nutty Bar in hand. Those weeks were filled with laughter, competitive games of washers, and long afternoons overlooking the lake before having delicious family dinners together.
Janet’s legacy lives on most clearly in the love she nurtured, the faith she embodied, and the family she cherished.
Janet was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Barnes; son, Daniel Barnes; and sons-in-law, John Dickerson and Wilcil Hector; her parents, Stanley and Rosalie Tomsheck; sister Joan Stephany; and brother James Tomsheck. Survived by children and spouses, Kim Manning (Richard), Kelly Beckel (Robert), Kerri Hector, John Barnes (Rebecca), Kallen Glidden (Timothy), Kristine Barnes, Timothy Barnes (Elizabeth), and Kara Barnes (David Diedrich); grandchildren, Matthew Manning, Megan Black (Ian), Maura Niederee (Joseph), Miles Hector, Hannah Barnes, John "Jack" Barnes, Grace Mainelli (Peter), Jacqueline Barnes, Emily Barnes, Patrick Barnes, Molly Barnes, and Louis Diedrich; great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Margaret, Eileen, and Paul Niederee, and John, Evelyn, Vincent, and Maximillian Mainelli; brother-in-law, Dean Stephany (Catherine); and sister-in-law, Catherine Tomsheck.
VIGIL SERVICE was on Monday, July 27 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 14330 Eagle Run Dr.
MASS of CHRISTIAN BURIAL was Tuesday, July 28, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Private Interment with immediate family, Mount Carmel Cemetery, Missouri Valley.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be given to the Dr. John W. and Janet Barnes Family Endowed Scholarship at Creighton University; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church; or Servants of Mary in Omaha, Neb.
To view a Live Broadcast of the Vigil Service and Funeral Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and go to the Live Cast Section on the Home Page.
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
