- Date Of Birth: December 22, 1946
- Date Of Death: December 18, 2020
- State: Indiana
Janet Louise (Deane) Tobolski, 73, of South Bend passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on December 18, 2020 after a recent battle with lung disease. She was born on December 22, 1946 to Lake LaVon and Mildred (Crago) Deane in Muncie, Indiana. She was the third youngest of ten children and arguably one of the most strong willed and chatty! She graduated from Muncie Southside High School in 1964. After graduation, she met the love of her life and dedicated husband, Alan Bernard Tobolski. Although he was late to their blind date due to some confusion around traveling through different time zones, she never regretted waiting around for him. They wed on October 28, 1967 at St. Lawrence Church in Muncie, Indiana. Together they raised three daughters; Angela Gouker (Micah) of South Bend, Indiana; Julie Crippen (Kevin) of McHenry, Illinois; and Christine Tobolski (Micha Tower) of Berkeley, CA.
Janet was a woman of great faith and a devoted Catholic. She was an active member of St. Stan’s Rosary Society. While living in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1993-2005, she made lasting friendships through her work and service at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. During that time, she and Alan were honored and inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Upon returning to South Bend in 2005, Janet and Alan attended St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in New Carlisle. Her time outside of prayer was spent with her family and dogs. Some of her happiest moments were spent with her five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She would tease and love on them like no other! Janet also relished her companionship with her two dogs, Snuggles and Dr. Pepper, spending hours with them looking at the lake. She could often be found in her kitchen, cooking up a delicious meal for her family and friends. Her homemade pierogies will be greatly missed! Janet was also creative and loved to make crafts which she donated to auctions to raise money for charities like Hannah’s House and Right to Life.
Janet is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard Deane, and her sisters Marilyn Hamilton and Joyce Lennington. She is survived by her husband, daughters, granddaughter Theresa Geans (Ryan), great grandsons Blake and BrantLee Geans; granddaughter Jamie Stewart (Connor); and grandchildren Michael Crippen, Trevor Crippen, and Kira Crippen; sisters Phyllis Wilkinson, Dorothy West (Wayne), Donna Holt (Don), Nancy Hunter; brothers Phillip Deane (Sandy) and Thomas Deane (Debra); brother-in-law Pete Lennington; and an astounding 50 nieces and nephews.
