Jeanette Iris Faust

Jeanette Iris Faust, long time resident of Derby, Kansas (1954-2014) and recent resident of Lawrence, Kansas (2014 – 2022) passed away on September 12, 2022.

Iris was born November 8, 1927 to Floyd and Estella Buell at the family home on their farm located in Delaware County, Ohio. She shared fond memories of her happy and hard-working farm family upbringing. As a young woman she left the farm and moved to nearby Columbus, Ohio to work for Borden’s Dairy. While in Columbus she met her future husband, Tom Faust, at a square dance. They were married on September 3, 1948.

Iris and husband moved from Columbus, Ohio to Wichita, Ks. in 1949 and to Derby. Ks. in 1954. They raised their three children in Derby and were very active in the Derby Friends Church. Together they founded the Derby Junior Wrestling Club in 1968 and jointly managed the growth of this program in Derby for the next twelve years. Their efforts positively influenced the lives of many young athletes and provided the foundation for five state championship wrestling teams at Derby High School.

Tom and Iris spent the winter months of their early retirement years as “snow birds” in south Texas where they enjoyed socializing with several lifelong friends as well as making new friends in “the valley”.

In 2014 Iris moved from her home of 60 years in Derby, Ks, to Lawrence to be near family. She met many wonderful people while living at Chipperfield and Meadowlark, and through the Lawrence Welcome Club. She enjoyed making new friends while playing dominoes, various card games and Mahjong.

This move also allowed her to be a part of her great-grandchildren’s lives, watching them participate in sports, and teaching them euchre and Mahjong. Iris also enjoyed snuggling and watching the smallest ones grow from infants to toddlers, to attending school. Her family and friends will miss many things about her, including her delicious zucchini bread and peanut brittle which she made every Christmas season.

Iris was preceded in death by husband of 51 years, Thomas Faust; parents – Floyd and Estella Buell; four siblings – Delman, Hugh, and Kenneth Buell, and Muriel Buell Fling.

Iris is survived by son Byron (Debbie) Faust of Slidell, LA.; daughter, Lynn (Phil) Beets of Lawrence, Ks; and son Lew (Audrey) Faust of Manhattan, Ks; Seven grandchildren: Amy (Doug) Loveland, Andrew (Kim) Beets, Whitney (Eric) Knight, Kelsey (Dan) Uchiyama, Alycia (Michael) Barrow, Bradley Faust, Kayla Faust and nine great grandchildren; Sister-in-law Beverly Smith, and several wonderful nieces and nephews.

A memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held on Friday September 16th at 10:30am at Warren McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, Kansas
A visitation will be held at Smith Mortuary, Derby Kansas from 10:00 to 11:30am on Saturday September 17th.

Family burial will take place at El Paso Cemetery, Derby, Kansas following the visitation.
Pallbearers – Six grandchildren: Amy Beets Loveland, Andrew Beets, Whitney Faust Knight, Kelsey Faust Uchiyama, Alycia Faust Barrow and Kayla Faust will serve as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearer is Bradley Faust

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Derby Wrestling Club Tom and Iris Faust Scholarship Fund care of The Derby Community Foundation, 946 N. Buckner St., Derby Kansas 67037 or the Derby Senior Center, care of Smith Mortuary, Derby, Kansas.