Juanita Jane Dalton, 89, of Gardner, formerly of Chanute, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 at Vintage Park Assisted Living, Gardner.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. at Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland, Chanute.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Cherry Street Youth Center or The First United Methodist Church in Chanute.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband Dwayne; parents Tom and Alice Elder; brothers Robert and Jack Ockenfels; sister Alice Faye Almond; in-laws Merle and Fern Dalton and her much loved dog, Susie.
Jane was born Aug. 19, 1936 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Thomas Earl Elder and Zelpha “Alice” Elder. Jane was raised in Benedict and graduated from Benedict High School in 1954. She married Merle “Dwayne” Dalton at her parents’ home in Benedict on Jan. 31, 1954.
They were married 66 years before his death in 2020. Together they raised four children: Dale, (Connie) Olathe; Bob, (Tracy) of Gardner; Tommy, (Sandy) Chanute; and DeeAnn, (Steve) Gardner. Jane has six grandchildren: Dustin, (Nicole,) Lenexa; Jason, (Stacy) Shawnee; Merle, Chanute; Amanda, Humboldt; Daniel, Grandview, Missouri; and Desiree, Chanute. She has 15 great-grandchildren: Beck, Emry, Wyatt, Ryder, Kade, Braxton, Kinley, Adia, Daisy, Brandy, Titan, Casen, River, Zoe and Kaia. Jane is survived by her brother Tom Elder, Greeley, Colorado and sister Diane Bulleigh, Topeka.
Jane was a member of the Chanute First United Methodist Church where she served as Youth Leader when her sons were young. She was a Boy Scout and Brownie Troop Leader. Jane was a member of the Chanute Business and Professional Women’s Club. She served as president and was 1983 Woman of the Year.
Along with her husband Dwayne, they owned D-J Oil Company during the southeast Kansas oil boom. She worked for the Eastern Kansas Oil and Gas Association for many years. Jane was a bookkeeper for 25 years at Greve Income Tax before she retired.
The family would like to thank the staff of Vintage Park in Gardner, where Jane lived for the last five years. Our gratitude for their friendship, care and genuine compassion is beyond words. We also thank the staff of Brighton Hospice of Lenexa.
