Janice Kay “Jan” Piatt, 86, formerly of Nickerson, died November 5, 2025, at Sparkling Fountain Homes in Overland Park. She was born September 30, 1939, in Pratt, to Verne M. and Juanita M. (Willis) Ayers.
Jan graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1958. She was a devoted farmer’s wife, loving caregiver, and worked as a custodian at USD 309 Nickerson Elementary School from 1983 to 1995. Jan had a passion for gardening, canning, painting, and crafting, but her greatest joy came from being a grandmother. She was deeply involved in the Nickerson community, serving on the Klear Nearly Day committee and attending Nickerson United Methodist Church.
In 1959, Jan married John W. Griffin and they later divorced. On September 14, 1984, she married Jack L. Piatt, in Nickerson. They shared nearly 30 years of marriage before his death on March 19, 2013.
Jan is survived by: her daughter, Jennifer Rueschhoff (Jason) of Lawrence; stepchildren, Brooke Piatt-Carreon (Ed) and Brent Piatt (Linda) all of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren, Michael Bugner of Kansas City, MO, Olivia Garcia and Bella Garcia of Lawrence, Ashley Williams and Alexzandra Samra of Las Vegas, NV, Jacob Rueschhoff of Blue Springs, MO; three great-grandchildren; siblings, Jeanette Bauer (Mike) of Murphy, TX; Dennis Ayers (Linda) of Enoch, UT, Judy Bechtold (Tom) of Andover; brother-in-law, Joel Piatt (Cheryl) of Union, KY; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Jack; daughter, Gail Bugner; son, David Griffin; and grandson, Russell Griffin.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 14, 2025, at Elliott Chapel. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park. The service will be livestreamed and the link to view it will be active beginning at 10:15 a.m. the day of the service. Click here to view the service
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, with the family present to receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorial donations may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.