Robert Janke

1933 - 2025

Robert George Janke, 92, of Eau Claire, died at home on September 22, 2025, following a stroke.

Robert was born on April 2, 1933, the youngest child of Ella Miklos and Carl Janke. Known to many as Bob or Bobby, he was raised in Eau Claire and called it home for most of his life. He grew up during the Great Depression in a small home on Putnam Drive. His mother worked at Peters meat packing plant, and his father was a skilled carpenter. Brothers Howard and Gerald also pursued carpentry, but it was his older brother, Vernon, who changed his life by bringing him to register for classes at what is now UWEC.

While still in college, he enlisted in the Army in 1954 and was stationed in Mainz, Germany, the start of his lifelong love affair with European travel and all things German. Due to his skills as a fast typist, he was made the company clerk. After his service, Bob completed his degree in Geography at UWEC and pursued graduate studies at Michigan State University on the GI Bill.

While teaching at the University of Oklahoma, he met the other love of his life, Sue Miller, whom he adored. They married on August 19, 1962 in Oklahoma City and recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary. Their life together took them abroad to Austria and Switzerland before settling in Eau Claire, where Bob became a geography professor at UW-Eau Claire. Over his 36-year career, he taught an estimated 16,000 students. He also served on the Eau Claire School Board from 1997–2006 and again from 2010–2013.

Bob and Sue raised two daughters, Linda and Karen, in a restored farmhouse on the south side of Eau Claire, later building their dream home with help from Bob's brother, Howard. Their love for Germany led Bob and Sue to welcome foreign exchange students Jill Theuring and Urte Weinkopf into their family and participate in UWEC's Host Friends program.

Bob was one of one: full of contradictions and unique in almost every way. Outside of work, Bob loved the country life and would spend hours on his tractor, mowing cross-country ski trails in the woods and gathering firewood. He enjoyed inviting friends to visit for skiing or blackberry picking parties. He was a skilled carpenter and mechanic and had a lifelong devotion to energy conservation. Bob was also an early adapter of new technologies and a friend to all animals. In his later years, he looked forward to his weekly Tuesday morning coffee group at the Senior Center. One of his favorite pastimes was playing pranks on friends and embarrassing his children.

Robert is survived by his wife, Sue; his daughters Linda (Peter Hennigan) and Karen (Scott Jordan); his grandchildren Ella and Leo Hennigan; exchange students Jill Theuring and Urte (Weinkopf) Wirtz; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Lorraine Carroll, Marion (Mel) Wesenberg, Howard (Jane Rotolo), Vernon (Gloria Thorn), and Gerald (Beverly Wall), and his lifelong best friend, Richard Haugen (Fran Reed).

The family wishes to thank the caring staff from the Visiting Angels and St. Croix Hospice, who assisted Bob in his final years and days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eau Claire County Humane Association, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, or YMCA Camp Manitou.

A celebration of life will take place at the Chicken Chaser's Bar and Grill in Fall Creek on December 22nd at 12 p.m. Lunch will be served. All are welcome.