Obituary for Janet Jeanine "Jan" Gaukel (Ankerstjerne)
Gaukel, Janet Jeanine
Age 81, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2019.
Jan was born in 1938 and raised on a beautiful farm in Onawa, Iowa to doting parents. She was active in 4H. She attended Blencoe High School where she played basketball, was in a saxophone sextet, and graduated valedictorian in 1956. She attended Morningside College. She married her sweetheart Tom in 1958. They lived in Onawa, Omaha, Bismark, and eventually settled in Bloomington. She raised 6 children and encouraged all of them to be involved in music. She was also known to sew them matching outfits. She was a talented pianist and played for both St. Bonaventure and later the Newman Center at the U of M. She went back to school when her children were older and obtained a pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota in 1990. She was a pharmacist at Butler Drug in Linden Hills for most of her career. Jan was also a talented crafter who cross-stitched a Grandma Moses painting, made an elaborate necktie quilt using ties she procured at estate sales, and made lovely pieced quilts. In retirement, she loved going on cruises with Tom and exploring the country in their Roadtrek RV. She was a voracious reader who loved her kindle and read all of the Harry Potter books in the last few years to keep up with her grandchildren. She adored her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Thomas “Tom” Gaukel; beloved daughter, Beth; parents Martin and Olga Katherine “Chris” Ankerstjerne; parents-in-law Dr. Leo and Frances Gaukel; sister Joyce Ruth; brother Bud (Lila) Ankerstjerne; brother-in-law, Jim Gaukel. She is survived by children, Kevin, Chris (Anthony), Heidi (Cully) Orstad, Traci, and Amy (Kurt) Jensen; grandchildren, Emily (Jordan), Paul, Grace, Andrew and Thora; brother and sister-in-laws, many nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbors, and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday July 20th 11 AM at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, 901 E. 90th St. Bloomington, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to Mass at church. Interment at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Age 81, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2019.
Jan was born in 1938 and raised on a beautiful farm in Onawa, Iowa to doting parents. She was active in 4H. She attended Blencoe High School where she played basketball, was in a saxophone sextet, and graduated valedictorian in 1956. She attended Morningside College. She married her sweetheart Tom in 1958. They lived in Onawa, Omaha, Bismark, and eventually settled in Bloomington. She raised 6 children and encouraged all of them to be involved in music. She was also known to sew them matching outfits. She was a talented pianist and played for both St. Bonaventure and later the Newman Center at the U of M. She went back to school when her children were older and obtained a pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota in 1990. She was a pharmacist at Butler Drug in Linden Hills for most of her career. Jan was also a talented crafter who cross-stitched a Grandma Moses painting, made an elaborate necktie quilt using ties she procured at estate sales, and made lovely pieced quilts. In retirement, she loved going on cruises with Tom and exploring the country in their Roadtrek RV. She was a voracious reader who loved her kindle and read all of the Harry Potter books in the last few years to keep up with her grandchildren. She adored her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Thomas “Tom” Gaukel; beloved daughter, Beth; parents Martin and Olga Katherine “Chris” Ankerstjerne; parents-in-law Dr. Leo and Frances Gaukel; sister Joyce Ruth; brother Bud (Lila) Ankerstjerne; brother-in-law, Jim Gaukel. She is survived by children, Kevin, Chris (Anthony), Heidi (Cully) Orstad, Traci, and Amy (Kurt) Jensen; grandchildren, Emily (Jordan), Paul, Grace, Andrew and Thora; brother and sister-in-laws, many nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbors, and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday July 20th 11 AM at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, 901 E. 90th St. Bloomington, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to Mass at church. Interment at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.