Jane Elizabeth Magers
December 24, 1931 - October 7, 2025
Jane Elizabeth Magers, 93 of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away peacefully in the late evening of Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 in Aurora, Colorado. She was surrounded by family and love.
A Celebration of Life will be held 11 am (MST) on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at UCC Parker Hilltop Church, 10926 Democrat Rd, Parker, CO 80134. The Service will be live-streamed by zoom at https://prairieuu.org/ click “Live Stream Our Service”. All are welcome to attend a luncheon/potluck following the service.
Jane was born, Jane Elizabeth Heistand, on December 24th, 1931 in Dayton, Ohio. The daughter of the late Rev. John W. Heistand & Kathryn Heistand (Dafler).
She is survived by her brother, Paul Heistand; sister, Sylvia Richey; children, all of Colorado, Jan Spooner, Sally Magers, and Martin (Dawn) Magers; five grandchildren, Patrick Ekdahl, Andrew (Myckala) Ballast, Jason (Yunueth) Tompkins, Taylor Groves, and Tristan (Iris) Magers; and seven great grandchildren, Lilliana, Arya, Jayne, Callan, Emilio, Sabyne, and Maeryk. She was a beloved and devoted Mother and Grandmother and will be dearly missed.
Jane was many things in life; Peace Activist, Sustainable Energy Advocate, Environmentalist, Community Leader, White Panther, Friend, Solar Cooker Instructor, Letter to The Editor Writer, Dancer, Pianist, Violinist, Classical Music Lover, Grammar Specialist, Tutor, & Teacher. She was also known by many names, Janie & Heisty Beasty (to her college friends), Mother, Mum, Grandma Jane, & GG (Great Grandmother, & Golden Grams).
A lifelong advocate for peace, education, and the environment, Jane earned her B.A. from Heidelberg College in 1954 and that same year married Mike Magers. While raising her family in Des Moines, Iowa, she founded several organizations to bring awareness of best energy practices for the planet and supporting children in her community. Citizens United For Responsible Energy (C.U.R.E.), Keepin Kids First, Youth Incentives, & The Jane Foundation were just a few. At C.U.R.E. she successfully led a team to halt the construction of nuclear power plants in Iowa and shared the implementation of energy conservation and renewable fuels. She held a prominent position at Iowa State University in the Energy Extension Office (1978-1982) creating resource guides and giving workshops for building solar cookers, solar food dryers, and solar water purification systems. Her family helped to build one of the first passive solar collectors in Iowa and her father, John, built & used one of the food dryers from her guide to save dried fruit. She marched in the American Soviet Walk in 1987 where she met, and later married (1991), Vladimir Fionof. She protested war and was arrested on quite a few occasions. You could find her standing on her local street corner, many times solo, waving a sign of Bread Not Bombs. Jane fearlessly lived her values. She received The President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) from her community. Who especially acknowledged her lifelong dedication to mentoring and supporting under-served kids. At 91 she was mentoring a local student, at 92 she was still giving solar cooker demonstrations at her home, The Rose of Des Moines, and at 93 she protested in February at the DSM Capitol during icy cold conditions for Democracy. The collection of her life work is housed in the Library Archives at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
She will be remembered for her continual way of moving forward in the midst of struggle; how she could always find joy in everything; her goofy hats and protest buttons; her love of diverse cultures and their food; protesting with her lifetime friends at the Women’s International League of Peace & Freedom (WILPF), and especially her love of nature, camping, and the birds.
June 6, 2026 there will be a Celebration of Life in Des Moines at Evelyn K Davis Park including a luncheon/potluck (and possibly a little activism project). Details to be shared soon.
“Keep On Keepin On” - Jane’s life motto.
Jane’s Celebrations of Life
Colorado
Saturday, December 6, 2025
11:00 am at
UCC Parker Hilltop Church
10926 Democrat Rd
Parker, CO 80134
Live Stream here: https://prairieuu.org/ then select “Live Stream Our Service”.
Iowa
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Evelyn K Davis Park
1400 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50314
More information to come
Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to WILPF DSM, c/o Laurie Jones, Treasurer, PO Box 65052, West Des Moines, IA 50265.
Photos of Jane
