Janae Haygood

Janae Rae (Knutson) Haygood, age 73, of Mason City, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 after a short battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 1st Ave N, Clear Lake. In honor of Janae’s favorite color and her love for sports, please wear something blue or a shirt representing your favorite team. Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2025 at the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Janae was born on March 23, 1952, to Kenneth and LaNita (Bird) Knutson in Clear Lake. After Janae graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1970, she went on to study nursing at North Iowa Area Community College. After graduating from NIACC in 1972, Janae was a nurse for over 30 years, her most prominent positions were at Mercy Medical Center and Oakwood Care Center. Janae had incredible bedside manners and was very good at starting IVs. Janae cared deeply about her patients and would do anything to assist them.

Janae was a loving and dedicated mother to her two children: Rick and Katie. Janae was a single parent; she was supportive, gave wonderful advice, and made sure her kids knew she loved them. Janae always made sure to say “I love you” after every phone call and visit.

Janae had a heart of gold and spent many years volunteering. Once she retired, she was a Reading Buddy and Pen Pal through RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). Janae spent one on one time with kindergarteners and 2nd graders and helped them read. Janae loved to read, especially crime/suspense books and she loved helping kids discover a love for reading, too. Janae was also an avid donor to Toys for Tots, she would scour ads for the best toys and the best prices, she donated hundreds of toys over the years.

Janae was a lover of all sports. In her younger days, she was a catcher for softball, umpired Little League, was in multiple bowling leagues, and sold tickets at the North Iowa Huskies games. Janae loved the Iowa State Cyclones, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Twins, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Janae was also very creative and loved crafts. She had beautiful handwriting and liked calligraphy; she was a skilled cross-stitcher and even enjoyed woodworking. Janae was an incredible cook and baker. She made many wedding cakes and always went overboard during Christmas baking. Katie and Janae would spread “Christmas Eve-Eve Cheer” and deliver baked goods to various places in Mason City.

Janae is survived by son, Rick Haygood; daughter Katie (Austin) Minnihan; siblings: Terri (Stu) Tell, Marna (Jon) Mathews, Al (Doris) Knutson; aunt/uncle Bob (Mavis) Whelan and Bill (Jean) Whelan; nephews Derreck Tell and Jarrod Tell; nieces Jil Tell, Chelsea Schaefer, Emily

Mongan; and dog-granddaughter, Foxy Lou.

Janae was predeceased by father, Kenneth Knutson; mother, LaNita Knutson; maternal grandparents, Ida and Loren Whelan; paternal grandparents Fanny and Andrew Knutson.

Ward Van Slyke is in charge of arrangements.