Janice Marie Ashbacker

Janice M. Ashbacker, 82, of Solon, Iowa passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Mercy Hospital. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral Service: 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026, at the funeral home. Burial: Shueyville Cemetery, Shueyville, Iowa.

Janice was born on February 1, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Joseph and Blanche (Turpkosh) Melichar. Janice married Walter Ashbacker on April 10, 1965, in Cedar Rapids. Janice worked at Mays Drug Store, Collins Radio Company and then went on to retire from Oral-B (Proctor and Gamble). Janice was always thinking and doing for others and she never cared if she didn’t get what she wanted. She was always looking for a new project to start and she loved working outside. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family while traveling, camping and fishing. The camping day was never done for her until she had the perfect campfire.

Survivors include her children, Steven Ashbacker of Solon, and Michelle Backus of Solon; grandchildren, Milo, Marin and Rowan; sisters-in-law, Janet Melichar and Shar Melichar; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Blanche Melichar; husband, Walter Ashbacker; brothers, Joe (Bev) Melichar, Ed Melichar, Don Melichar, and Rick (Eileen) Melichar; and son-in-law, Jordan Backus.