Edna Janke

JANKE-JORGENSON, EDNA (Age 104)

Passed away peacefully on March 30, 2017, 3 days before her 105th birthday, at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, Odessa, WA. She was born on April 2, 1912, in Chester, MT, first child of David and Mary (Heimbigner) Heimbigner. The family homesteaded in the Chester, MT, area for several years. When Edna was 3, they moved to the Ritzville, WA area where her father farmed. They then lived Odessa, Lamona, and Batum, WA, areas, and Puyallup, WA for various lengths of time, returning to Odessa permanently in 1927. Edna left school after completing 8th grade, to care for her younger sisters and brothers. She also hired out to do house work. She met her future husband Reuben Janke, at a dance in Odessa, and they married on September 1, 1931 in Spokane, WA. They lived in Odessa, Cashmere and Sprague, WA before settling permanently in Odessa. They bought their home in Odessa in 1945, and Edna lived there 69 years before she reluctantly moved to the nursing home. Edna and Reuben had 3 children Merle Janke, DeLila Janke Huff, and Allen Janke. Edna and Reuben were married 45 years when Rueben passed on in 1976.Edna married Morgan Jorgenson on December 17, 1981 in Coeur d'Alene, ID, and they lived in Edna's home in Odessa. Edna and Morgan were married 22 years when Morgan passed on in 2004. Edna was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church in Chester, MT was confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa, WA where she was a member all her adult life. Edna was a homemaker who took great pride in her home. She loved caring for her yard and always kept it looking like a park. She enjoyed crocheting and knitting, and kept everyone in the family supplied with afghans, doilies and dish clothes. If invited, she was always ready and eager to go gambling or shopping. In her lifetime she went from driving her siblings to school by horse and wagon, to flying in jet planes. Edna is survived by her son Allen (Sue) Janke, Ephrata, WA, daughter-in-law Coleen Janke, Odessa, WA, step-daughter JoAnn (Bob) Dunlap, Spokane Valley, WA, 9 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, numerous great and step great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, niece and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, son Merle Janke, daughter DeLila Huff, step-son Lane Jorgenson, step-daughter Carol Jorgenson Donovan, both parents, brothers Leo and Lamar Heimbigner, sisters Helen Els, Dorothy Beck, Ella Walter and Mildred Wilskie. Private Inurnment services will be held at 10:00 AM, April 12, 2017, at the Odessa Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 11:00 AM, April 12, 2017 at Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa, WA. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa, WA 99159, Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, Odessa, WA 99159, or the charity of your choice. Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is in charge of arrangements.