Janice Elaine (Clarke) Lehrke

Janice Elaine (Clarke) Lehrke age 86, of Portage, Michigan passed away on November 6, 2023, at White Oaks Assisted Living Center in Lawton.

Janice was born on September 26, 1937, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late Richard Dalton and Phyllis Constance (Maxam) Clarke.  Jan, as her friends and family called her, was a lifelong resident of the Kalamazoo/Portage community. She held several jobs over the years, but her role driving school buses led her to the love of her life; Frank Lehrke, who proceeded her in death.  Frank and Jan married on August 6, 1977.

Jan was a wonderful loving mother to Greg (Linda) Root of Kalkaska, Michigan, David (Terry) Root of Lawton Michigan, and Lynn (Bill) Dean of Paw Paw, Michigan. She cherished her seven grandchildren and was thrilled with her thirteen great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her beloved sister, Nancy Schallhorn, of West Friendship, Maryland and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Jan was employed by IHS Distributing for over 32 years as a bookkeeper and retired in 1999. She always had a smile and a kind word for everyone she met.  Jan had many interests; she loved to travel and camp. She completed several beautiful quilts, enjoyed gardening and finding unique rocks to adorn her garden.  Jan was a lifelong member of Pathfinder Church, formerly Portage First United Methodist Church. She was dedicated and active in her Church and her deep faith was a part of her identity.  You could find Jan welcoming the congregation on Sundays, teaching Sunday School, and organizing Church potlucks, trips, dinners, and events.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm Friday, November 10th at the Pathfinder Church, formerly Portage First United Methodist Church 8740 S. Westnedge Ave.  A service to celebrate Jan’s life will begin at 12:00 on Friday after visitation at Pathfinder Church.  Pastor Ron Hansen and Brother Donald Wolfgang will be officiating.  Immediately following the service there will be a time for food and fellowship in the Church Fellowship Hall.  Graveside services will be held Monday, November 13th at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park South.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jan’s memory may be directed to Centrica Care Navigators or Pathfinder Church.

Please visit Jan’s personalized guest book at www.langelands.com