1939-2025
Janis Elizabeth Meredith, age 85, died March 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Kansas, surrounded by her family. She was born November 17,1939 in Isabel, KS, to Ronald and Mary Judy Hogg. Her family moved several times throughout her childhood, but she always considered Wichita home. She was a 1958 graduate of Valley Center High School.
A sense of resilience, determination and quick wit that were hallmarks of Janis’ character. In 1958, that spirit captured the heart of Glenn Meredith when they met on a double date. They were married on February 14, 1959.
Janis and Glenn made their home in Wichita, where they raised three children over the course of their 35-year marriage. Janis was a working mother, and her jobs included working as a customer service analyst for more than a decade at Beechcraft Aircraft. She and Glenn also owned Meredith Liquor, on West Kellogg Road In Wichita.
She was an active member of College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita until she moved to Blue Springs, MO, in 2019. She was a member of PEO Chapters in both Wichita and Blue Springs. She was one of the first members of Women for Kansas and an advocate for anything that involved the issues of justice or equality. That led her to become a member of the governing board of Hillcrest Apartments in Wichita, where she lived from 1996 to 2019. Janis was the coinventor and patent holder of the Aqua Lounger ®, a water tanning bed that was sold in the late 1980s.
Her love of an active lifestyle and her willingness to try new things conveyed to her new home at Novel Place Senior Living in Blue Springs, MO. She quickly made friendships through participating in any and every activity as well as regular Bridge and Hand and Foot card games.
Janis loved traveling. She and Glenn took many trips together, starting early in their marriage with summer car vacations and camping with the kids, often joined by their lifelong friends and traveling companions, Kay and Leo Girrens. As empty nesters, they expanded to RV vacations and cruises. After Glenn’s death, Janis took every bus trip Village Tours offered and took trips to Europe and Britain. She was a delightful companion on road trips, particularly if the musical hits of the 40s and 50s were on the playlist.
The greatest love of Janis’ life was her family and will be profoundly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Stephen Hogg; her sister, Judy Hogg Reno; and her daughter, Jill Meredith Niblack. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Buckman and her husband Jeff of Pleasant Hill, MO; son Gregory Meredith and his wife Mimi of Lawrence, KS; grandchildren Meredith (Billy) Biggs of Lebanon, TN; Megan (Chris) Weikal of Wichita, KS; Melissa (Chad) Daily of Peculiar, MO; William (Marisa) Meredith of Billings, MT; Mason (Hayley) Buckman of Westwood, KS; Patrick (Margaux) Meredith of Marlborough, MA; Cody (Krayshawn) Niblack of Wichita, KS; Mary Charlotte Meredith (Nick Reesor) of Roeland Park, KS; and Dalton (Takiyah) Niblack of Wichita, KS. She had 14 great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her nieces, nephews and their families.
A family graveside service will be held at a later date.
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