Hethe J. Janke
March 1st, 1973 - November 19th, 2021
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Hethe's Obituary
Hethe J. Janke, 48, of Benton Harbor, entered into the presence of his Lord & Savior, Friday, November 19, 2021 at Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1965 Broadway Ave., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations in Hethe’s name may be made to the Family c/o Lauren Janke, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School, The 4-H Foundation or the Berrien County Youth Fair-Rabbit Barn. Those wishing to sign Hethe’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Hethe was born March 1, 1973 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John & Donna (Dettmann) Janke. He was a life-long member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he was baptized, confirmed, and then graduated 8th grade. Hethe graduated from Michigan Lutheran High School, Class of 1991 and went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1995. Following college, Hethe joined his Father in the family business-Janke Insurance Agency in Millburg, which he continued to own & operate.
On April 29, 2006, Hethe married the former Lauren Hillberg in Stevensville. Hethe was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council. He was a member of 4-H as a youth and continued to serve, for the last eighteen years, as a 4-H leader in support of his children. He and his children all raised and showed rabbits at the Berrien County Youth Fair and Hethe served on the rabbit committee. In his free time, Hethe enjoyed cooking, woodworking, painting & crafts, and most of all, attending his children’s sporting events. Hethe was an avid family cook, and especially enjoyed preparing a family favorite-Gristwurst & Sauerkraut.
Hethe is survived by his wife Lauren, his children-Jacob, Madeline & Evan Janke; his mother Donna Janke of Benton Harbor; two sisters-Laurice Boley of Peoria, AZ, Jeanice (Dan) McConomy of Stevensville; mother-in-law Caren Hilberg of St. Joseph; sister-in-law Dawn Hillberg & her husband Chris Brunner of New Paltz, NY; and nieces & nephews-Jenny, Matt, Crystal, Garrett, Mitchel, Harrison, & Coleman. He was preceded in death by his father John and his father-in-law Robert Hillberg.
A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1965 Broadway Ave., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations in Hethe’s name may be made to the Family c/o Lauren Janke, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School, The 4-H Foundation or the Berrien County Youth Fair-Rabbit Barn. Those wishing to sign Hethe’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Hethe was born March 1, 1973 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John & Donna (Dettmann) Janke. He was a life-long member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he was baptized, confirmed, and then graduated 8th grade. Hethe graduated from Michigan Lutheran High School, Class of 1991 and went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1995. Following college, Hethe joined his Father in the family business-Janke Insurance Agency in Millburg, which he continued to own & operate.
On April 29, 2006, Hethe married the former Lauren Hillberg in Stevensville. Hethe was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council. He was a member of 4-H as a youth and continued to serve, for the last eighteen years, as a 4-H leader in support of his children. He and his children all raised and showed rabbits at the Berrien County Youth Fair and Hethe served on the rabbit committee. In his free time, Hethe enjoyed cooking, woodworking, painting & crafts, and most of all, attending his children’s sporting events. Hethe was an avid family cook, and especially enjoyed preparing a family favorite-Gristwurst & Sauerkraut.
Hethe is survived by his wife Lauren, his children-Jacob, Madeline & Evan Janke; his mother Donna Janke of Benton Harbor; two sisters-Laurice Boley of Peoria, AZ, Jeanice (Dan) McConomy of Stevensville; mother-in-law Caren Hilberg of St. Joseph; sister-in-law Dawn Hillberg & her husband Chris Brunner of New Paltz, NY; and nieces & nephews-Jenny, Matt, Crystal, Garrett, Mitchel, Harrison, & Coleman. He was preceded in death by his father John and his father-in-law Robert Hillberg.
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