Jan Roberts is this quarter’s recipient of DCDC’s “That’s How It’s Dun” Award. This award is part of a community service recognition program created to honor those who go above and beyond in their volunteer service contributions to the Dunlap community.
Jan was born and raised in Dunlap. She has lived in the area for her entire life, excluding her time at beauty school in Council Bluffs. Jan and her husband, Don, have one son, Dan, and four grandchildren.
Jan and Don have owned Roberts Auto Supply for 47 years, and she owned Jan’s Beauty Shop for nine years. Jan was a beautician for 45 years for residents at the Dunlap Care Center. She also styles hair for local funerals, upon request. In addition, she has worked in seven different job positions at 10 different locations, (for a total of 28 ½ years) for the United States Postal Service before retiring in 2023.
Regarding volunteer time, Jan has a lot of “feathers in her cap.” For more than 40 years, she was a Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Leader in Dunlap. During that time, she helped mentor 13 youth to earn their Eagle Scout status. In 1994, Jan’s son, Dan, earned his Eagle Scout Award, the first of the 13 Eagle Scouts. Under Jan’s leadership, the Scouts did a plethora of activities through the years, including placing 600 scout-funded flags and crosses at the Dunlap Cemetery each year for Memorial Day. Jan earned several “Troop of the Year” and “Scout Master of the Year” awards. With Jan at the helm, the Troop received a Main Street Iowa Volunteer Award.
“Although Jan has received many awards through the years for her dedication to the Dunlap community,” Jill Schaben, DCDC Executive Director, said, “I know there are so many things that she does that many don’t even realize!”
Jan was a member of the original Dunlap Booster Club. She played a role in renewing the Dunham Wax Nativity Scene in 1984, when the wax figures were reclothed, a new structure was built and the wax parts were redone by a group of local artists.
She stayed on with the Booster Club even through their transition to becoming the Dunlap Community Development Corp. She was a treasurer for DCDC, traveled to important meetings across the state and received awards on behalf of the organization.
In 1990, Jan received the State of Iowa Volunteer Award, awarded by Gov. Terry Branstad. She’s also received Citizenship of the Year and the Main Street Iowa Volunteer Award.
Jan has been a member of the Dunlap Historical Society for years and in 1993, she worked with Virginia Dunham to get the Dunham Barn on the State Historical Registry. The Barn is one of 10 brick barns left standing on that list in the state of Iowa. Jan, Virginia and Doris Bingham worked to get many grants to do repairs so it could be open to the public.
As a member of St. Patrick Church, she helps with the Church Mardi Gras and Annual Fall Dinner. Jan has been a member of the Catholic Daughters for 48 years. In that time, she has held three positions, currently as the treasurer and co-chairing in helping getting workers; desserts or food for the funerals at St. Patrick Parish Center.
She also was recently recognized for collecting over 100 donation items as part of a food and supply drive for the Dunlap Community Food Pantry and is an ongoing volunteer for the pantry. The past four years, she has made the dressing for the annual Marge Peterson Community Christmas Dinner, and she makes candy each year for the Dunlap Public Library’s Used Ornament and Cheeseball Sale. She’s been a member of the Friends of the Library for five years.
“It’s apparent to me that Jan is aware of her immense talent for baking and cooking,” Schaben said. “She has honed in on this talent and uses it for good. Many in the community benefit greatly from Jan’s cooking!”
This statement is backed by the fact that Jan delivers upwards of 30 “Christmas Goodie Plates” to businesses, the homebound and more during the holiday season.
More recently, Jan has been helping facilitate meals at the Dunlap Senior Center, with a goal to increase traffic to the site. She also makes it a personal priority to seek out senior citizens who need more socializing and picks them up to take them out to eat.
Jan is a cancer survivor of 34 years. In that time, she has made it her mission to support others battling cancer. She sends them trinkets and letters of encouragement as they battle the disease.
When prompted to state what she loves about Dunlap, Jan said she “is proud to call Dunlap her home, where people are friendly and they’re there when you need them. You can’t get that in large towns.”
Jan feels that it is important to serve Dunlap, to keep the community as a great place for people of all ages.
“I don’t want to see it decline,” she said. “I want to see the community grow, retain our young population and get our grandchildren to stay, attract new people to town and provide a place for people to retire.”
“Thank you, Jan,” Schaben said. “You look out for those around you, and you make a big difference in our great town.”
Know someone who deserves recognition for their service to Dunlap? Visit dunlapia.com and click the “Resources” tab to access the “That’s How It’s Dun” nomination form. Four Dunlap area residents will be recognized annually. Contact Jill Schaben with questions at dunlapdcdc@gmail.com.
