Janell Hestand

Janell Martin Hestand, age 90 of Grove, Oklahoma, crossed into heaven Sunday, October 26, 2025. She was born near Fayetteville, Arkansas September 8, 1935, to Arthur L and Hazel Belle (Hall) Martin, the eldest of 12 children.

Janell grew up on a farm at Greenland, Arkansas and after graduating from Fayetteville High School enrolled in Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri. There she earned a degree in Business Education and also met Larry Hestand, whom she dated for a while. She was a member of Evangel’s first graduating class in 1959. After graduation Janell moved to Kansas City to live with her college roommate, Mary Ellen Holcomb (Snow). In the meantime, Larry had left college to join the Air Force and was stationed near his home at Kansas City. They both attended Evangel Temple Church in Kansas City and reignited their relationship. They soon decided to get married and joined in matrimony in Fayetteville on November 5, 1960. At first they lived in an apartment on the Paseo in Kansas City where Janell worked as a receptionist for Allstate Insurance. They soon bought a home in Robandee subdivision in south Kansas City. After four years they moved to Fayetteville, where Larry went to work for Campbell’s Soup and Janell worked as a secretary at the bank. In 1967 Campbells Soup transferred Larry to Chicago. They settled in Carol Stream, Illinois and Janell began her career as a High School Accounting teacher. In addition she taught courses at Wheaton College. From Wheaton, they moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas where Janell oversaw construction of their new home. A year later they moved back to Wheaton. In 1974 she and Larry were blessed with twins, Matthew and Mark. This added many adventures and learning experiences for them all. In 1977 Larry joined Oral Roberts University in Tulsa and the family moved to Jenks, Oklahoma. Janell taught Accounting and Business Law at Union High School. The boys were active in sports and Janell enjoyed watching them run and excel in track and field. In 1980 Janell and Larry started a small business; The David Company made ceramic giftware and customized items. She was in charge of the office, marketing and sales. In the fall of 1988 Janell and Larry moved to Philadelphia to work for Cardone Industries where Janell worked in the transportation department. In 1991 they moved back to Oklahoma City where she enjoyed staying home and being a homemaker. In 1992 they bought a small radio station in Grove, Oklahoma and settled in Meghan Coves on Grand Lake. Janell worked tirelessly beside Larry taking care of all the day to day business operations and as time went by added 4 more stations reaching over two million people in the four state area. At Janell’s urging they eventually bought a beautiful 40 acre farm south of Grove. In 2020 they left the radio business and moved back to Meghan Coves on Grand Lake when her health began to decline. One of her greatest legacies is she and Larry together planting churches in Fayetteville, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Grove.

Janell was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Hazel Martin, her brothers Quentin and John Edward, her son Matthew and daughter in law, Sheila.

She is survived by her husband Larry, her son Mark, and her siblings, Kay Spence, Mark Martin, Jacquie (Michael) Cardone, Janeen (Mark) Spuler, Gary (Candi) Martin, Patti (Doug) Techanchuk, Zahn Martin, Joan Dixon, Steve (Lisa) Martin and a host of nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 1 PM, Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Olympus North Cemetery in Grove, Oklahoma.