Janice Elaine Kokesh

Janice Elaine Kokesh of Maple Grove, Minnesota passed away on May 14, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Irene Parker, her daughter, Kerry Kokesh Diepholz, her sister, Barbara Jean Durey, and her spouse, Ronald Andrew Kokesh.
Janice (Jan) was born on March 18, 1937 in Terre Haute, Indiana. She graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1955 where she met her high school sweetheart and husband of 70 years, Ronald (Ron) Andrew Kokesh. After her marriage to Ron in 1955, the couple moved to Tucson, Arizona after Ron enlisted in the United States Air Force to get the GI Bill. They then moved to New Market, England where Ron was stationed, and where the couple's late daughter Kerry was born in 1957. While living in England they met many friends and traveled throughout the country.
Jan was a devoted wife and homemaker who created a comfortable loving home for her husband, three children, and their sweet canine companion Snuffy. Once empty nesters, they brought home their cherished dog Ruby. Jan enjoyed music and had a knack for interior decorating. She had a great sense of humor and loved playing games. She was particularly good at canasta. Jan was always fashionable and in later life could be spotted wearing her fabulous signature black glasses. Jan always looked and acted younger than her years-she was truly a kid at heart.
Jan and Ron spent time up north, with cabins on Leech Lake and later Lake Alexander, and shared wonderful times with their family. Over the years they had different homes on Lake Minnetonka which was their favorite lake. She and Ron would vacation in Palm Springs, California. Later on, the couple would spend their winters in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, Arizona where many memories were made during family visits in the desert.
Jan is survived by her daughter Kristin Kokesh Bjorklund of Plymouth (Richard), her son Kevin Ronald Kokesh of Orono (Barry), her nephew David Durey (Sharon), her niece Karen Povey, her grandsons Derek Diepholz, William Diepholz (Meredith), and Andrew Bjorklund, her granddaughters Erika Wood (Zach) and Michelle Haylund (Nick), her great granddaughters Ivy Wood and Fiona Wood, and her great grandsons Brady Wood and Rowan Diepholz.
A private family service is planned. www.Washburn-McReavy.com
Dawn Valley Chapel 952-941-7686