- Date Of Birth: August 9, 1931
- Date Of Death: August 30, 2015
- State: Michigan
Leona S. Janke, age 84, died August 30, 2015 after an extended illness, peacefully in the bedroom of the farmhouse she loved. She was born August 9, 1931 to Eduard and Olga (Behnke) Schmidt in Dowagiac, Michigan. The eldest child of six, she was raised on her parents’ 380 acre Cass County farm. She graduated from Dowagiac High School as valedictorian.
She initially attended the University of Michigan to study music but graduated with a B.S. degree in Pharmacy; she worked for many years as a registered pharmacist. In middle age she earned a Master of Arts degree in ceramics from WMU, graduating as a distinguished university scholar. A gifted potter, her clay works and “teapots” were exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. Leona was an avid photographer and volunteered her time to the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association. She also loved tennis and played competitively for many years. “Oma” Janke loved bridge and played regularly.
Her intellectual interests were broad and included an intense interest in genealogy and European history. She was a life member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, serving many years on its board of directors. She was also on the board of directors at the Schoolcraft Community Library. On September 15th, 1956 she was married to Dr. Robert A. Janke who survives. She is also survived by four children, Beth, Tom, Ellen and Rob, and by 10 grandchildren.
