Birkley, Janet Ruth 1936-2009

BIRKLEY, HINKEN, GOERTZ

Posted By: Doris Hoffman (email)
Date: 7/4/2010 at 14:53:48

Janet Ruth Birkley of South Sioux City, NE, formerly of Westfield, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Regency Square Care Center in South Sioux City.

Memorial Services were held Friday, Oct. 30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron with the Rev. Dawn Quame officiating. Private inurnment was in Silver Ridge Cemetery, rural Ponca, NE. Carlsen Funeral Home – Schroeder Chapel in Akron, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.

Janet was born Nov. 17, 1936 on the family farm near Waterbury, NE, the daughter of Wilbur and Ruth (Goertz) Hinken. She was raised near Waterbury and graduated from Waterbury High School. She attended Wayne State Teach­er’s College in Wayne, NE. Upon completion of her school­ing, she began teaching in Emerson, NE. Later, she had a traveling job with JC Penny throughout the United States until returning to the area to teach in Wakefield, NE.

Janet was united in marriage to Joe Birkley on June 14, 1959 at Salem Lutheran Church in Dakota City, NE. Janet and Joe farmed near Jackson, NE until moving near Westfield in 1965. They adopted six children, and were foster parents for many throughout the years. Through Immanuel Lutheran Church, Janet and Joe took in 15 Chi­nese refugees from Vietnam in 1975 following the Vietnam conflict, raising four of them. Joe passed away Nov. 10, 1984. For the last several years, Janet has been a resident of Regency Square in South Sioux City.

Janet was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron. Janet was always known for her artistic and creative abilities. She enjoyed painting and refinishing antique furniture. In her earlier years, Janet loved to travel and go horseback riding. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her children: John Birkley and his wife Teresa, of Hinton, IA, Vance Birkley of Downey, CA, Zane Birkley of Westfield, IA, Inger Birkley of Minneapo­lis, MN, and Penny Birkley of Sioux City, IA; six grandchil­dren, Billie Jo Birkley, Travis Birkley and his wife, Sara, Tracy Welch and her husband, Jared, Quentin Banks and his wife, Julie, Nicole Saylor and her husband, John, and Alex­ander Birkley; several great-grandchildren; three sisters, Pearl Voss of Sioux City, Mary Lou Engel of Minneapo­lis, and Sharon Greenleaf of Waterbury, NE; a son-in-law: Carey Banks of Westfield; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe; a daughter; Helen Banks; two brothers, Harvey and Roy Hinken; and a sister, Florence Campbell.

~Source:
Akron Hometowner
October 2009
Akron, Iowa