Rev. Roger Alvin Janke

VISITATION SATURDAY, June 1 from 4-7 PM at HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME, 4800 s. 84TH

VISITATION SUNDAY, June 2 from 1-2 PM, Service 2 PM AT OUR FATHER’S LUTHERAN,  6025 S. 27th

Reverend Roger Alvin Janke

Born July 22^nd, 1938 , called home to his Savior May 28^th, 2019.

Loving husband of Marva Lou (nee Feddersen). Devoted father of Jonathan (Cathy) Kugath, Nathaniel (Debbie) Kugath, Melissa (Brian) Kennedy, Paul Janke, Joel (Kris) Janke, Naomi (Mark) Schindler. Beloved Grandpa to Brittany, Katie, Corey, Scott, Noah, Kayla, and Kieran. Special Great-Grandpa to Sage. Preceded in death by his parents Alvin and Ruth Janke, his first wife Nancy, and foster brother Ralph Wright.

Born in Milwaukee, WI to Alvin and Ruth Janke. Baptized August 25th, 1938. Roger attended elementary school at St Paul’s Lutheran School in West Allis and was valedictorian of his 8^th grade class. Roger was a natural born leader and as a youth served as an usher, Sunday school teacher and spoke so fondly of being part of Walther League (youth group). This coupled with parents who were active servants at St. Paul’s, Roger knew by the end of elementary school that he wanted to be a pastor. In 1956 he graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, WI. He then attended Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee, WI and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, IN, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1960. Roger went on to the seminary in St. Louis, MO, serving his vicarage year (1962-’63)at Chatham Field Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL and received his Master of Divinity degree in 1964. Clearly displaying a love for education, Roger remained at the seminary and obtained his Master of Studies in 1965.

Pastor Janke knew his vocation was much more than a career, it was a true calling to share the love of Jesus with everyone he met. He served the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for 54 years, to 8 parishes, and countless members who will forever remember his kind heart, warm smile, strong handshake, booming voice in the pulpit, and overwhelming love for his Savior:

• 1965-’68: Grace Lutheran Church, Hastings, MI
• 1968-’75: Grace Lutheran Church, Oberlin, OH
• 1975-’82: St John’s Lutheran Church, West Bend, WI
• 1982 –2000: Our Father’s Lutheran Church, Greenfield, WI (where he coined his famous phrase: “Have a GOD day!”)

“Retired” on October 1^st, 2000, yet remained an active servant in retirement helping to fill vacancies from 2000-2007 to:

• Concordia Lutheran Church, Waunakee, WI
• Hope Lutheran Church, Twin Lakes, WI
• St Paul’s, West Allis, WI (his childhood parish)
• Grace Lutheran, Oak Creek, WI

Additional Service:

• Counselor Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, New York City, 1967
• Hastings Ministerial Alliance (President – 1967)
• Oberlin Ministerial Association (President – 1971)
• Synodical delegate LCMS, St. Louis, 1983
• National Chaplain, Lutheran Rangerettes 1985-‘96
• Circuit 1 Counselor

Roger met his first wife Nancy at a church dinner during his vicarage year in Chicago where Nancy was born and raised. They courted and were engaged that same year. Roger returned to finish seminary in St. Louis and Nancy joined him after they were married on June 7, 1964 at Hope Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. While serving at parishes in MI and OH their marriage was blessed by three children, Paul, Joel and Naomi. Nancy died in childbirth in 1974. Trusting in God’s plan after the loss of Nancy, Roger dug into his church work at Grace Oberlin, OH and being super single dad to his children with the help of his parents, his parish, and many dear friends. While he mourned, the Lord was orchestrating one incredible life story many would later come to marvel at.

The story of Roger’s journey to his wife Marva is incredible. As Grace did not have a school, Roger had enrolled Paul at St. John’s Elyria, OH. One very special lady, Marva Lou Kugath, became Paul’s first grade teacher. Marva had previously lost her husband Gerald and was serving the church while being an incredible mother to Jon, Nat, and Melissa. Embarking on a love story no one could have imagined, Roger and Marva started dating (often with six kids in tow) and quickly knew the Lord had brought them out of their tragedies to a family story few could write. Roger proposed, Marva accepted, and they were married on June 15^th , 1975 at St John’s Elyria. Later that same year the newly blended family took a call to serve at St. John’s West Bend, WI where together they started afresh with a new church, school, home, state, and life together. Never forgetting where they came from, and always knowing God had brought them together in a very special way.

Over the years Roger explored many hobbies. As a child he learned to play the piano and the accordion, enjoyed singing, and formed a quartet “The Fog Lights” while in Walther League. He dappled in basketball and ran his own paper route. As a family man, Roger was often found playing “Pig” or “Horse” in the driveway, swimming in the pool, racing down a toboggan hill, or attending his children’s school, music, and sporting events. He supported and cheered them on with a zeal few could match! As grandchildren were added into this mix he loved spending time with them, teaching them colors with his colored pens (noting that orange was THE best) and building and flying paper airplanes.

Together, Roger and Marva enjoyed a love for travel. As a young family they experienced many road trips in their orange van to places like Washington D.C., Florida, and Washington State. As the kids grew and had families of their own they enjoyed extended family to trips to Branson, MO, Myrtle Beach, SC, Virginia Beach, VA, Hershey, PA, Boyne, MI, and Wisconsin Dells. Those trips were filled with fun adventures, countless hands of Polish Poker, Sheepshead, Dominos and memories to last a lifetime. Roger and Marva also enjoyed foreign travel and toured Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland and the Holy Land.

In their retirement years, Roger and Marva moved to Village of Manor Park (VMP) in West Allis, WI. A community that would serve their varied needs over the years very well. Here they enjoyed downsized apartment living, card playing, and easy access to a roomful of friends to chit-chat with. In 2014 Roger was diagnosed with mouth cancer and fought it like a warrior. While he was able to rejoice in the word “remission” he also quietly acknowledged a “new normal” where his life would never be truly the same. Yet his joy in life was ever present and his faith in Jesus unshaken. Marva took “in sickness and in health” to amazing levels and cared for Roger in their home for several years. When it came time for Roger to move to Maplewood in 2016 (nursing home part of VMP), Marva remained his advocate and lovingly cared for him with the assistance of their wonderful staff. Their love for one another was unwavering and apparent to all, even as Mom guided him into the hand of his Savior with his hand in hers.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Pastor Janke:

Visitation Saturday, June 1 at HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME, 4800 South 84th Street from 4-7 PM. Visitation will continue Sunday June 2 at OUR FATHER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 6025 South 27th Street from 1-2 PM with Funeral Service at 2:00 PM.  Rev. Karl Fabrizius officiating.  Private family interment Wisconsin Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Our Father’s Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at VMP Maplewood Health Center and Vitas Hospice Care for their loving care.