Jane Calmes' Obituary
Jane Bailie Calmes passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 in Forsyth, Illinois in the arms of her husband and surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous and tenacious eight year battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Prior to that she overcame a heart condition and breast cancer, but met her match with one of the world’s most insidious diseases.
Jane is survived by her mother Ruth Bailie of Forsyth, IL; husband, Mark Calmes; children, Christopher Calmes of Decatur, IL, Andrew (Lisa) Calmes of Manchester, MO, Kimberly (Rex) Davis of Sherman, IL, and Nicole (Adam) Fehr of Bloomington, IL; granddaughters Gracie and Sadie Calmes, Tatum Fehr and Adaline Davis. She is preceded in death by her father Dr. James C. Bailie.
Jane was born on January 13, 1947 in Coffeyville, KS. She attended Kansas University and later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wichita State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science/Dental Hygiene. She married Mark Calmes, Vice President of Archer Daniels Midland Company, in 1980. After moving from Maassluis, the Netherlands to Decatur, IL, she began working for several local dentists, including Dr. William Tener, and had a long career with Dr. Larry Osborne. Over the ensuing years, the couple welcomed four children into their home and Jane set about teaching them all things great and wonderful. Her children remember her as a kind, gentle and patient mother who encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams.
Jane was an accomplished dental hygienist and loved working with the public, all the while providing a necessary service with gentle thoroughness, for which she was noted. She loved participating in and watching sports, especially those her children participated in. She was also passionate about Kansas Jayhawks basketball, even though she had to take a lot of teasing from her Illinois friends. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Jane loved the ocean and she and Mark visited it as often as possible. Prior to becoming incapacitated by ALS, she was an active and dedicated member of Grace United Methodist Church and often volunteered in the nursery and GUM Park. Her faith and love of Jesus Christ was extremely important to her. Jane was also an ALS Hero, outliving a disease, through pure grit and determination, which usually claims its victims within two to five years of diagnosis. Because of her disease, the family formed a very successful ALS Association Walk team in her honor. To date, Team Jane’s Angels has raised over $550,000 for the Association. Now, the team has a real angel as its captain. Much of the team’s success is attributed to donations from Mark’s extremely generous colleagues at ADM and the ADM Matching Gift program, all of which Jane was humbled by and grateful for. Notwithstanding all the accomplishments and pursuits in Jane’s life, all she ever wanted was to be a wife and mother, and cherished all the years she and Mark raised their kids. Having grandchildren was icing on the cake.
Jane wanted her family, friends, caregivers, doctors and nurses to know how much she appreciated them for all of their love and steadfast caring. Jane especially loved her life-long friends from Kansas, Paula and Gene, Sherry, Graham and Kathy, and Dick and Lois. She also greatly appreciated the continuing support during her illness from local friends Betsy, Linda, Debbie, Joan, Penny, Carol, Trish, Jackie, Pam, and Nancy. The family would like to thank the management and staff of the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter for their exceptional care, services and friendship, her cardiologist, Dr. Jyothinagaram, her long time personal physician, Dr. Baumberger and his replacement Dr. Belur, her oncologist, Dr. Esparaz, their staffs, Dr. Sobol, who provided his expertise with the disease in his area of specialty, and respiratory therapists Dave and Sherri. We would like to express special thanks to Jane’s pulmonologist, Dr. Henkle, and Dr. Stauder, her optometrist, who went way beyond the call of duty with their care and friendship. We would also like to thank the Colee family for their friendship, pharmaceutical guidance and critical medicines through their family drugstores. Lastly, and most importantly, the family thanks Jane’s caregiver CNAs Cassie, Sam, Kasey, Marlena, Ashley, Robin, and Jessie, nurses Melody and Stacy, and DMH Home Health Care and Hospice Services, especially nurses Marcia, Vicki, Angie, Becky and Michelle. Without these extraordinary women, the family could not have provided the high level of care that Jane received.
A visitation for Jane is scheduled on August 20, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Moran and Goebel Funeral Home, located at 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL. A funeral is scheduled for August 21, 2017 starting at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home, with burial at Graceland Cemetery, 2091 N. Oakland Ave., Decatur, IL. The Reverends Randy and Debbie Reese will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jane’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter at 2258 Weldon Parkway, St. Louis, MO 63146 (http://webstl.alsa.org).T
The family of Jane Calmes is being served by Moran & Goebel Funeral Home, 2801 N. Monroe St. Decatur, IL. Please view the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at www.moranandgoebel.com.
Video Tribute for Jane Calmes: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/R7NFWBKPT5BKH4P7
What’s your fondest memory of Jane?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jane?
Share a story where Jane's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jane you’ll never forget.
How did Jane make you smile?