Frances Helena Janke

May 17, 1928 - December 3, 2020

Frances Helena Janke, 92, fell asleep in the Lord on December 3, 2020, to await the Resurrection on the Last Day. She was born to the Rev. Edward and Lorena (Kropp) Williams in Verona, New Jersey, on May 17, 1928, and grew up in Rockville Centre, New York. She attended Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, where she met her future husband, George A. Janke. They were married in Rome, New York, on June 18, 1950, and were married 44 years before he preceded her in death on August 18, 1994. Frances was a teacher and a homemaker, having taught first and second grade for several years at St. Paul’s Lutheran School and later assisted in the pre-Kindergarten at St. John’s Lutheran School where she also had been a member. She is survived by her children, Mark Janke (Cheryl) and Lynn Janke; grandchildren Allen Janke (Adrienne) and Eva Koeller (Jon); and great-grandchildren Austin, Adair, Isaac, and Kara. She was preceded in death by her brothers Edward, Don, and David, and a sister, Faith. She is also survived by a sister, Lorena Cheney. Frances enjoyed playing the flute and was a member of the Athenaeum Turners Orchestra in the 1980s and 1990s. She also played for St. John's contemporary worship service and was a member of the adult choir for many years. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, December 11, at St. John Lutheran Church, 6330 Southeastern Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana. The service will also be livestreamed on the church's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/stjohnlutheranschoolindianapolis/. Interment will be at the church's cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran School, located at the same address as the church.