PRIVATE FUNERAL SERVICE SET FOR TWENTYNINE PALMS ICON JANE SMITH

July 30, 2021

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Jane Smith, a lifelong resident of the Morongo Basin, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of July 22 in Twentynine Palms. Jane Smith was the daughter of the founder of the Twentynine Palms Inn, Bob Van Lahr, who established the restaurant and hotel in 1939. In 1977 when Jane’s parents retired after forty-five years as Inn Keepers, Jane and her family moved to Twentynine Palms to purchase, and continue running, the inn.

Jane is survived by her husband Paul, 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Due to current health concerns, a mass and ceremony of Jane’s life will be held by invitation only. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a local non-profit. A list of non-profits Jane was involved with are available below.

Jane Grunt Smith was an open-armed friend to all. Loving, caring and generous do not begin to describe the warmth she left with those who were lucky enough to know her. Jane passed away peacefully, in her sleep, in the early morning of July 22, 2021 in Twentynine Palms, CA. She is survived by her husband Paul, 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Jane, Janie or Mom was born on August 11, 1941 to parents, Robert “Doc” and Claire “Mama, Mamo, Omah” (Johansing) Van Lahr while residing in the still very young town of 29 Palms. She grew up with three siblings, Anne (Doud), Mary (Hester) and Leo Van Lahr. The family owns the 29 Palms Inn, which is far more than just a family business. The Inn is a life style that, very early on, exposed Janie to the joys of people from all walks of life gathering for celebration. She attended school in 29 Palms until high school, when she left to attend and graduate from Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, while living with her Johansing grandparents in La Canada Flintridge and surrounded by many relatives in the greater Southern California area. Jane then left to attend college at Dominican University in San Rafael, California. While at Dominican, Jane met Ronald Nicholas Grunt who she then married on June 17,The two initially lived in San Pedro, CA, where their first three children Heidi, Brock and Hans were born. The couple and their family then moved north to Marin County, and began life there while living on a houseboat, “Lil Grot”, which still floats on the Pond at the 29 Palms Inn today. When their fourth child Gretchen was born in Marin, space and child rearing chaos meant moving into a house with a real foundation; one designed and built by Ron.

In 1977, Jane’s parents were ready for retirement after forty-five years as Inn Keepers. This set in motion Jane’s dream of returning to her desert roots, so the Grunt Family purchased the Inn that has been in the family since 1928, and moved to 29 Palms to continue running this family business. It was here that Jane and Ron’s fifth child, Christian was born. After Ron’s untimely death in 1991, Jane married Paul Francis Smith, who had two children of his own, Stan and Meredith (Plummer). Her immediate and extended families have all been incredibly blessed by her presence in their lives.

Jane took on the task of running the Inn as much more than just a means of family support. She poured her absolute passion for caregiving and nourishing others into the business. Under her watch, the Inn blossomed to become even more of a place where people would come to renew their souls, taste delightful food, rest their bodies, be creative and discover the beauty of the desert. More clearly than others, she always saw potential in the people of this world and shared what she had to further this potential. Her positive outlook, creativity and endless energy was infectious, attracting talented visionaries from all over the world. Jane entirely immersed herself, not only in the Inn, but also in the local community and into the preservation of the greater desert. Jane’s ideas and all of her actions were solidly grounded in her spiritual connection with God and the beauty of the Earth. Jane has left an example for her family, her friends, and even those who never met her, as to how one should carry themselves while on this planet. Her message to all was that one should leave this place and this world better than they found it, as “life is precious”.

For current health concerns, a mass and ceremony of Jane’s life will be held by invitation only. In lieu of flowers, Jane would have preferred a donation made to the non-profit of your choice. Some of the ones she was most involved with include:

Mojave Desert Land Trust: