Jean E. Janda

Family and friends meant everything to Jean Janda. She was a special lady who had a great laugh, was witty, forgiving and had unconditional love for those around her. All who knew her, were blessed to have her in their lives.

With much of the country talking about events like the Hindenburg exploding that signaled the end of the flying ship as a major form of transport, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart for her round the world flight and the grand opening of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, no other news was more important to the young couple of Paul M. and Ina M. (Good) Kane than the announcement of the birth of their daughter, Jean Ellen Kane. She was born on February 4, 1937 in Buchanan, Michigan.

Jean was the second born child and helped raise her younger siblings. Growing up she learned the value of hard work around the house, caring for family, and the skills to become a great seamstress and cook. She played the tuba in the school band while attending local schools in the town of Buchanan and graduated from Buchanan High School with the Class of 1955.

During high school, Jean started working as a "soda jerk" at Wisner's Drug Store. After high school, she was working as a secretary when the course of her future would change forever. Henry E. "Hank" Janda, Jr. was in the office servicing the office equipment and a friend of hers set the two of them up. Even though they went to watch a movie that was not that good, the two would fall in love and create a life together. Jean and Hank were married September 27, 1958 and would make New Buffalo, Michigan their first home. With Hank's career at IBM, they moved to Niles, Michigan and other areas around the country before moving to the north edge of Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1976 and rural southeast Whitley County after their new home was complete in 2010.

Jean was a wonderful wife and mother. She took great pride in running her house and caring for her family. As her children were growing up, she worked at a license branch and a fabric store, which suited her well being a talented seamstress. Over the years she not only made her own prom and wedding dresses, she made her family clothes, Halloween outfits, prom dresses and wedding dresses. Jean had a green thumb and loved her flowers. Her vegetables were able to supply the family year-round by taking the time after harvesting to can them. She was a crafty lady who was involved with her children and grandchildren's school activities and helped with costumes and school props for plays.

She loved her family and was blessed with so much family to love. All her grandchildren mean the world to her and she had many loving nieces and nephews. Jean enjoyed the time spent with everyone and enjoyed having family get togethers. What started out as a bonfire on Halloween morphed into an annual Halloween party for over 30 years with a host of family and friends getting together. Jean and Hank enjoyed going out each week for the last 15 years with their close friends Gayla and Gary Cox.

Tragically and unexpectedly, Jean E. Janda, 82, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away at Parkview Regional Medical Center following complications from having a back surgery a few days prior. After 9:02 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2019, Jean's family and friend's lives would be changed forever. She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, , Hank Janda; son, Jeff Janda, of Batesville; daughters, Lisa (Gil Kumfer) Sweet and Barbara (Tony) Sweet, both of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Levi (Jenny Weaver) Dunfee, Jenna (Nick) Janda-Timmis and Lynne (Matt) Ives; great-grandchildren, Alice, Robin and Raven; sister, Patty (Buck) Swartz; her two lovable dogs, Cleo and Brody; very close niece, Pam along with several other loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Joan Drown, Janet Eddy and June Fabis; and brother, John Kane.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 3-6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2019 DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with her funeral service to begin at 7 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Humane Society of Whitley County. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.