Joe Janes recognized on 95th birthday

A zeal for life, community betterment and head strong endeavors have made Joe Janes a well-respected Butler County resident.

The Butler County Commission, the Qulin Lions Club and Janes’ family honored him for his service and dedication as part of his 95th birthday celebration earlier this month

Butler County Eastern District Commissioner Don “Butch” Anderson presented Janes with a proclamation honoring his life as a businessman and a community volunteer.

Anderson said, “The commission adds our voice in wishing the happiest of birthdays to a farmer, family man and civic leader - Joe Janes. Have a great 95th birthday, Joe.”

Janes, a business and community leader, is known best by his family for his zeal for life. Granddaughter Tabitha Thomas said, “How do you describe someone who has had so much drive and ambition in his life? He has always had such a zeal for life. He has always been a generous man, always giving to those who are in need. But my favorite thing about my grandfather is the way he lights up when he sees any of his great-grandchildren. His family means the world to him. And he means the world to our family.”

While Thomas describes her grandfather’s enthusiasm for life, son Bob recalls his dad always has been “head strong.”

Bob Janes said, “He has given us a work ethic. He always said, ‘work hard and do the beet you can.’”

Along with his work ethic, Bob Janes said his dad stressed community involvement.

“He is a devoted family man and an astute businessman,” Bob Janes said.

He recalled his dad wasn’t the scout leader, but always provided his car to haul the scouts. His dad and his late mother, Sarah, who was the business’ bookkeeper, were “in agreement about contributing to the community. They contributed to about any cause there was.”

Joe and Sarah Janes purchased a drug store in 1948 in Qulin. Bob Janes said, his parents later purchased a gas station on Highway 53, the fertilizer plant and farm land.

Joe Janes joined the Qulin Lions Club in 1958, which makes him the oldest and longest serving member. In honoring him, the Lions Club’ proclamation said, “Joe has seen many changes in his life time. Joe has been a blessing to our community and the Lion’s Club.”

The Janes family also was named Farm Family of the Year by the University of Missouri Extension Service.

He’s also a member of the Qulin Nutrition Board. The county commission appointed Joe Janes to the Sheltered Workshop Board on which he served. He was elected to the Ozark Border board and is a Woodman of the World.

Of his parents’ four children, Bob and his brother, Ronald Edward Jones of Poplar Bluff, are surviving. Joe Janes has nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

“Mom and dad are lifelong Democrats. They both won the Best Democrat Award at the annual Truman Day Rallies,” Bob Janes said.

He remembers, President Jimmy Carter invited his dad to participate in a small business committee hearing in Washington, D.C., which his dad attended