Janette B. Vuke

Janette B. (Sanford) Vuke, age 88, died peacefully February 22, 2016 at the Indiana University (IU Health) Hospice House in Bloomington, Indiana. She was born September 26, 1927 in Aitkin, Minnesota and grew up on a dairy farm along the Mississippi River near Palisade, Minnesota, where she learned to know and love nature from her mother. She attended Pine Grove, a one-room country school; Aitkin High School; and received a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Minnesota. In 1949 she married George J. Vuke, and they settled in the Bloomington, Indiana area. While mother to seven children born in the 1950’s, Jan received a Master’s degree in Science Education from Indiana University and subsequently worked as Director of Biology Teaching Labs at I.U. She and George took the family on annual summer camping trips, eventually purchasing woodland property on a fast-flowing river in northern Michigan where the family camped and canoed the rivers. Later, George and Jan had a cabin built on the property and spent many more enjoyable summers there.

After retirement Jan and George traveled throughout the U.S., and parts of Europe and Asia. Following George’s death in 1996, Jan rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon four times, went mountain backpacking, took a trip in a hot air balloon, and went on a horse pack trip in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. She continued to enjoy the Michigan property and visits to Montana where she restored a one-room schoolhouse.

Jan was a watercolor artist and enjoyed many creative activities including weaving and quilting. She was a charter member of the Bloomington Sportsplex and faithfully attended exercise classes there as long as she was able. She walked in many 5K races in the Bloomington area into her eighties, and one across the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan.

Jan was preceded in death by infant twin brothers; parents, Robert W. and Ruby M. (Mather) Sanford; and her husband, George J. Vuke. She is survived by her children, Susan Vuke, Peggy Vuke Wiswall Eiya, Jerry Vuke, Thomas Vuke (Darlene), James Vuke (Therese), Anthony Vuke (Pam), Timothy Vuke (Mona); seventeen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and her sister, Audrey (Sanford) Engels.

Following Jan’s wishes the family will have a memorial service at the Michigan river property this summer. Memorial donations may be made to the I.U. Health Hospice House, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, or a charity of choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home, 4150 E. Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47401.