John J. Janke

John J. Janke, 80 of Millburg, passed away, Sunday, June 12, 2016 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:30 A.M. Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1965 Broadway, Benton Harbor, with Rev. Jeff Bolwerk officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor.  Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph.  Memorial donations may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School, 4-H Foundation or the Rabbit Barn at Berrien County Youth Fair.  Those wishing to sign John’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. John was born July 9, 1935 in Benton Township to Reinholt & Bertha (Steinke) Janke, the youngest of six children. He was baptized in 1935 and confirmed in 1949 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor.  John attended the old Pearl School and St. Matthew’s Lutheran School and graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1953.  He served his country in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957.  On April 11, 1964 he married Donna Dettmann at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.  John owned and operated Janke Insurance Agency in Millburg for more than 50 years. John was active in 4-H from the age of 10 and was currently Co-Coordinator and Leader for Countysiders 4-H Club. He was a former member of the board of directors of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation and former president of the Berrien County 4-H Leaders Council. Currently he was president of the Outstanding Leaders Committee and was a recipient of the Michigan Emerald Clover Society for 4-H.  He was also very active in the Berrien County Youth Fair as a member of the Rabbit Committee, serving as Assistant Barn Superintendent since 2011.  John and Donna raised Chocolate Havana Rabbits, showing them at Open Shows in the area and nearby states. John was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he currently served as an Elder and held other offices over the years.  John enjoyed making dandelion wine and sauerkraut, but his highlite was the family tradition of making Gritzwurst with everyone including the kids, who did the taste test.  John’s marriage to Donna was blessed with three children-Laurice Lynn (Don) Boley of Avondale, AZ, Jeanice Joyelle (Dan) McConomy of Stevensville, and his son & business partner Hethe Jonathan (Lauren) Janke of Millburg; nine grandchildren-Crystal & Garrett Meek, Jenny, Matthew & Mitchell McConomy, Mike Boley, and Jacob, Madeline & Evan Janke; his brother Robert Janke of Schoolcraft, three sisters-Irma Krieger of Watervliet, Mildred (Alton) Wendzel of Watervliet, Verna (Frank) Ratter of Navarre, FL; sister-in-law Sherron Janke of Altamonte Springs, FL; brother-in-law Ronald (Sharon) Dettmann; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Carlton Janke, brother-in-law Allan Krieger, and sister-in-law Leona “Onie” Janke.