Janet Elaine LaMar

Janet E. LaMar, age 85, of Andover, passed away on August 19, 2026, at Andover Court Assisted Living. She was born on January 24, 1941 in Kenton, Ohio to Cecil and Mildred (DeGraffenreid) Thrasher.

Janet’s father Cecil died at a young age which brought Mildred, Janet and Judy back to Kansas. Janet graduated from Oakley High School in 1959 where she met her future husband, Harvey LaMar. They were united in marriage on January 22, 1961, at the Oakley Christian Church in Oakley, and had two sons, Harry and Monte. She attended Business College in Wichita where she learned skills that would employ her as an executive secretary for StarKist Tuna where Harvey would eventually accept a position as a civil engineer. Harvey’s job at StarKist took the family to American Samoa and Puerto Rico with Harry and Monte in tow until they moved back to Kansas in 1975 so the boys could experience Kansas sports. Jan loved to work on her brackets and followed both boys and grandsons in their wrestling careers. She was an avid KU Jayhawks fan. Janet and Harvey were active with the Red Bud Lake Association where they lived in Abilene and met many neighbors and made many friends over the years. Jan and Harvey were married for 48 years until his death in 2009. She eventually settled in Topeka and then in Andover where she was close to her boys. Janet and her sister Judy shared a close, lifelong bond.

Janet is preceded in death by her husband Harvey E. LaMar; her parents, Cecil Thrasher and Mildred Lewallen, and her stepfather Lewis Lewallen. She is survived by her sons: Harry LaMar and Monte (Leeann) LaMar, and foster daughter Julie Johnstone; 4 grandchildren: Lucas Baker, Lanell (Sam) Benton, Brady (Hanna) LaMar, and Brett (Kaitlin) LaMar; 6 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson; her sister Judy Christian, stepbrother Dennis (Sandy) Lewallen, stepsister Sherry Nickel-Crim; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Oakley Cemetery with Dennis Lewallen officiating. There will be no visitation.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be given in Janet’s name to the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, Kansas 67219 or at https://kshumane.org/how-to-help/donation/

Sign the online guestbook at www.kennedykosterfh.com