Janet Faye Willeke, age 54, of Mount Gilead, died unexpectedly on Sunday morning, August 11, 2013, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
On April 13, 1959, Janet was born in Columbus, Ohio, the oldest of four children of Robert “Bob” and Faye (Campbell) Willeke. As a family, they moved from Worthington to Mount Gilead in 1968.
She attended Mount Gilead schools and graduated in the Class of 1976. Furthering her education, Janet attended Otterbein University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication. Next, she earned her master’s degree at the Ohio State University to become a speech language pathologist (SLP).
With a passion for helping others, Janet worked diligently as a speech therapist to help others. She especially loved helping children with their speech and enjoyed her time working in Whetstone School and the Cardington School systems. She also enjoyed helping her older clients get rehabilitated and back to their normal lives at Lexington Court and Woodside Nursing Homes. She often said… “I have a thousand ideas about how to help others. Some have worked and some haven’t.” Her compassion and generosity were legendary; she had many long-time friends.
Janet was a long time member of the Trinity United Methodist Church.
A dog lover, Janet always had her beloved Moe by her side, a corgi dog that she and her long time friend, Mark Grasmehr got together. Corgi Moe also perished in the accident. Janet also was well known in the corgi community, a group of fellow corgi lovers.
Very well read, Janet had an extensive book collection that her family will be sharing with the Mount Gilead Public Library. She also was an avid Cincinnati Reds baseball fan, a serious purse collector, and had done some “lovely” needlework.
Having a great sense of humor, Janet was quite the cut up. No matter the occasion she could find a way to get a laugh out of you.
She will be fondly remembered by her parents: Bob & Faye Willeke of Mount Gilead; two brothers and a sister: Dave (Alice) Willeke of Lexington, Sue (Paul) Middaugh of Mount Gilead, and Mark (Marsha Adkins) Willeke of Lexington; eight nieces and nephews: Meghan, Mitchell and Mason Willeke, Nicholas Middaugh, Dannelle and KatelynnWilleke, and Paige and Chase Stover; and by her loving companion and special friend, Mark Grasmehr of Edison.
The Willeke family will greet friends from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 E. High St., Mount Gilead. Services honoring her life will immediately follow there at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Lori Burdette-Steele officiating. She will be put to rest in Rivercliff Cemetery privately by her loving family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, c/o Building Fund, and to Habitat for Humanity of Morrow County, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead are honored to have been chosen to serve Janet’s family and your private condolences may be expressed to them online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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