Jane was born on December 18, 1910, at her parent's rural home near Manhattan, Montana, to Emerson and Frances Pearl Sappington Ruegamer. She was raised on her family's ranch and was educated in a rural school before attending high school in Manhattan. Her mother died when she was six years old so she assisted the family with household chores. On August 21, 1929, she was married to Durward 'Dick' Poynter in Butte, Montana. The couple lived in Manhattan until 1934 and later operated J.C. Penney's Department Stores in Billings, Montana, Lead, South Dakota, and Montpelier, Idaho. In 1957, they moved to Grinnell, Iowa, where they owned and operated Poynter's Fourth Avenue Fashion in downtown Grinnell. From 1983 to 1999, she worked with her daughter as a sales representative for the Doncaster Company. Jane enjoyed outdoor activities, especially raising flowers and vegetables in her garden. She was a member of the United Church of Christ-Congregational and the Sunset Club of Grinnell. Survivors include her son, John D. Poynter of San Francisco, California; her daughter, Mary Jane 'MJ' Zimmerman of Grinnell; three grandchildren, Jane Ann Gifford of Columbus, Indiana, Mary Beth Zimmerman of Pella and Caroline Dourly of Claremont, California; and three great grandchildren, Graham and Grace Gifford and Angelina Elizabeth Dourly. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son-in-law, Roger Zimmerman; one grandson, Paul Poynter; one sister; and four brothers. Memorials may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice or to the United Church of Christ-Congregational.