Jane Maxine Wicker

1948 - 2025

Jane Maxine Wicker

August 15, 1948 - October 19, 2025

Jane Maxine Wicker, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, educator, and lifelong advocate for literacy, passed away peacefully in Tulsa, OK, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the age of 77 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm, and a hospital stay at St. Francis Hospital.

Jane was born August 15, 1948, in Harrisburg, PA, to loving parents who nurtured her early love for learning and service to others. From a young age, she was a determined student. She graduated second in her class from William Penn High School in 1966, setting the foundation for a career devoted to education and helping others succeed.

Following high school, Jane attended Shippensburg State College from 1966 to 1969, earning her degree in Elementary Education. Her teaching career began in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, where she joined the Pine Grove Area School District as a second-grade teacher in November 1969. Jane quickly became known for her kindness, creativity, and unwavering dedication to her students.

Never content to stop learning, Jane attended Bloomsburg State College from 1970 to 1973, earning her Master of Education in Reading. She continued her postgraduate studies to obtain a Certificate for Reading Supervision, deepening her expertise in literacy education. Between 1969 and 1975, she served the Pine Grove Area School District as a second-grade teacher, reading specialist, and later as the Reading Supervisor for the entire district. Her leadership and innovation in reading instruction profoundly impacted both students and fellow educators.

After stepping away from full-time teaching to raise her children, Jane returned to the classroom in 1984, joining the Blue Mountain Area School District as a Reading Specialist in the Middle School. She later continued her work in the district, teaching 4th-grade students until her retirement in June 2006.

In addition to her public-school career, Jane was passionate about helping children achieve literacy. After retiring, she privately tutored children who struggled to read, guiding many to become confident students. Her compassion, patience, and belief that "it's never too late to learn" changed countless lives for the better.

Those who knew Jane remember her as kindhearted, thoughtful, funny, and deeply devoted to her family, students, and friends. She had a charismatic personality and a steady grace that left an impression on everyone she met. Her legacy of teaching and love of learning will continue to live on through those she taught and those who loved her.

Jane had a strong lifelong Christian faith and belief in God. She attended Calvary Memorial Church in Gering, NE, where she was a greeter, in bible school, and in the nursery. She was always ready to help with a meal for funerals. She loved weekly Bible study fellowship, Brunch with a Purpose, and weekly lunch with the ladies. She was also a member of the Ambassadors Club. She was very active in her retirement community, organizing and cooking monthly meals, helping to host "coffees," and cooking food for anyone in need.

Jane is survived by her sister, Billie White and husband, Douglas of Round Rock, TX; nephews, Todd White and wife, Lauribeth, and Brian White and wife, Christie; and great nieces and nephews; her daughter, Melissa Goad Vorchheimer and husband, Jonathan of Quakertown, PA; her son, Andrew Wicker and wife, Emily of Scottsbluff, NE; her grandsons, Micah Wicker and wife, Dani, and Avery Wicker and wife, Jordan; and her great-grandchildren, Leela and Charles. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Helen Spencer, and other loved ones who went before her.

Jane will always be remembered for her kindness, her love of sharing a good story, and her lifelong dedication to helping others. Her memory will forever live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

A Christian memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Memorial Church, 265 18th Street, Gering, NE. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jane's name to Calvary Memorial Church.