Janet Lea Bright, daughter of Robert L. and Rena E. Petersan Bowman, was born April 21, 1944 at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. She passed away suddenly Monday April 28, 2008 at Kaiser Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 64 years and 7 days. Janet's parents moved to Essex, Iowa in 1946 where Janet was raise on their farm. She graduated from Red Oak High School in 1962 and attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She then attended graduate school at the University of Michigan. Janet loved teaching and throughout her career taught in schools located in Michigan, Chicago, Minnesota, Omaha and for the past 21 years in Honolulu, Hawaii. She taught at President William McKinley High School in Honolulu and helped start the Academy of Finance program, teaching students the value of investing and saving money over time. Her students knew she respected them and enjoyed helping them. Janet was voted "Teacher of the Year" in 2003 in Hawaii. Janet married Robert J. Bright on March 11, 2001. As a couple, they enjoyed the same things. Janet loved what Hawaii offered year around - water skiing, swimming, boating, running, the sun and the beauty. She and Bob took full advantage of living in Hawaii. Lake Okoboji had also been a special place to Janet all her life; she looked forward to each and every visit. Janet was preceded in death by her brother, Robert L. Bowman on May 10, 2006. Janet is survived by her husband, Robert; parents: Robert and Rena Bowman of Red Oak, Iowa; sister: Lynne Smith and husband Harry of Kansas City, Missouri; brother: Steve Bowman and wife Gail of Omaha, Nebraska; 3 step-sons; 7 nieces and 9 nephews, other relatives and many friends. A memorial service was held by the ocean in Honolulu close to Waikiki on May 3, 2008. Nearly 300 friends, colleagues and students attended and threw their leis on the water for Janet. May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn. Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Red Oak, IA Inurnment in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Nyman, IA Rev. Gordon Scott, Officiating Memorials may be given to the Janet Bright Academy of Finance Scholarship Fund at McKinley High School or First United Methodist Church in Red Oak Sellergren Lindell DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.