HICKS, Janet Mae (Grein, Orluske) 1920-2015

HICKS, GREIN, BISPING, ORLUSKE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 7/2/2015 at 13:54:14

NORA SPRINGS, IOWA - Janet Mae (Grein) Hicks, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2015, at the age of 94.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday (July 3, 2015) at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 110 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs, Iowa, with Pastor Art Zewert officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday (July 2, 2015) at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs, Iowa.

She was born on October 11, 1920, in Lakefield, Minnesota, to William and Bertha (Bisping) Grein. She attended Immanuel Lutheran parochial school and graduated from Lakefield High School in 1937. She then attended and graduated from Minneapolis School of Business. As she was just 16 years old, she couldn't find a job. Her uncle, Bill Rieneke, hired her to set up his business records in his Case Tractor dealership in Lakefield.

She married Clarence M. Orluske on June 16, 1940 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield, Minnesota. They had three children, Phyllis, John and Paul. Clarence was killed on Iwo Jima on March 11, 1945. Janet and her young family moved in with her parents. She then worked at the Farmers Elevator and Farmers State Bank in Lakefield, Minnesota.

She married Gerald "Shorty" Hicks on April 24, 1952, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield. They had one son, James. Janet worked at Jackson County Cooperative Oil Co. The couple then moved to Nora Springs, Iowa, in 1962, where they fulfilled a life-long dream of owning an A & W drive-in.

Janet volunteered many hours at the library, held many responsibilities at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed bowling on many teams in Lakefield and Nora Springs. She was also an avid reader and made many crocheted items for her family. She moved to assisted living in 2004 until her passing.

Janet is survived by her daughter Phyllis (John) Nauerth, their children Daniel and Michelle; her son John (Sonia) Orluske, their children Carrie Tietz, Julee Albers and Wendy Scheel; her son Paul Orluske and his children Paul M. Orluske Jr. and Cally Pederson; her son James (Deanna) Hicks, and their children Heather Frei, Matthew and Benjamin Hicks; 19 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Frieda Grein, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Janet was preceded in death by her first husband Clarence Orluske, second husband Shorty Hicks on October 17, 1988, and her brothers George and Robert Grein and her parents.

Blessed be the memory of Janet Grein Orluske Hicks.

Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs, IA; 641-749-2210.

ColonialChapels.com

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 2 JULY 2015