Jana Griffith, 63, of Aurora, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025 in North Mankato, Minnesota surrounded by family.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 9th at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church, at Phillips. Rev. Mark Dunham officiated. Interment was in the Aurora Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date.

Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary. com.

Jana Marie Griffith, the beloved daughter of Larry and Jolene (Miller) Fox, was born in Henderson on February 17, 1962 and passed away peacefully in North Mankato, Minnesota on November 29, 2025, at the age of sixty-three celebrating all she was thankful for while surrounded by family.

Jana was raised in Aurora and graduated from Aurora High School in 1980. A few short months later, she married the love of her life, Wayne Griffith, on September 20, 1980. They built a life side by side in the outskirts of rural Aurora and grew their family together for nearly forty years.

Jana chased her children around the state of Nebraska for many years watching every sporting event they participated in, while also not fully understanding the rules at each game. But she lived for her three kids and always cheered them on. Once her kids were grown, Jana discovered her love of traveling with her husband, kids, and other family members. She enjoyed taking multiple trips to Mexico, Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, sailing on cruises, and visiting sandy beaches. The sun, beach, and ocean were her medicine.

The recent years were hard for Jana in her battles with loss, grief, and life. She showed her strength and resilience with her husband and family by her side. Jana was gifted the role of grandma which kept her spirits bright. Jana’s love of her children and traveling shifted as she was named “grandma.” She loved her grandbabies hard. Jana snuggled, sang (most times she made up her own songs), spoiled, read books, watched movies, drew pictures, completed puzzles, played games, pretended, and gave (and received) an abundance of kisses and hugs. She spent many hours on video chat, watching cell phone videos, and looking at pictures of her grandbabies. She loved them and they adored her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne.

Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Andrew (Melissa) Griffith of Wayne, Tyler (Megan) Griffith of North Mankato, Minnesota, and Abby (Tyler) Butt of Central City; her six grandchildren: Jace, Lyla, Tate, Dashiell, Dominic, Griffith, and baby on the way; parents, Larry and Jolene Fox of Aurora; sister, Laura (Doug) Swartz of Omaha; brother, Larry (Paige) Fox, Jr. of Aurora; three sisters-in-law, Cindy (Mike) Hansen of Gretna, Cheri Fierstein of Grand Island, and Lori (Dave) Ziska of Aurora; and numerous loving nieces and nephews, family members, and countless friends.

The Central City Republican-Nonpareil | December 11, 2025