Janet Fike Obituary

Services for Janet Maude Fike, 74, of Lawrence will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 2025, at First United Methodist Church, Lawrence.

Janet died Monday, April 28, 2025 at her home in Lawrence, surrounded by friends and family, following a courageous 3 ½ year battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, educator, and friend.

She was born October 14, 1950 in Almena, Kansas, the youngest daughter of Cloyd Beverly and Elizabeth Grace (Karnopp) Combs, and developed a strong work ethic at a young age by helping on the family's dairy farm. She graduated from Northern Valley High School (Almena) in 1968, and earned a bachelor's degree in education, with an emphasis in Home Economics, from Fort Hays State in 1972, becoming the first member of her household to graduate from college. During that time she also earned a private pilot's license.

Janet began her professional career with Kansas Power and Light, serving as an educator to appliance dealers and the public for the use of electric appliances, including newly introduced microwave ovens. After 3 years she began work for King's Appliances, as a salesperson and consumer educator. She wrote a weekly recipe for microwave cooking that appeared as an advertisement in the Lawrence Journal World. When King's Appliance closed 3 years later, she started work as a teacher for Lawrence USD 497, in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences, which she served as for a total of 31 years, with the vast majority being at West Jr High (now West Middle School). She was a long-time fixture at the school, and is remembered fondly by many students, staff, and faculty members for her sunny disposition, helpful attitude, and unwavering dedication to her craft.

She married Joseph (Joe) Kenneth Fike on April 13, 1974 at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence. They met while both working at Kansas Power and Light. The early years of raising their children included thousands of home-cooked meals, many nights spent camping in a pop-up trailer, numerous road trips, and attending sporting events such as Royals baseball, and K-State football and basketball games, and many joyous hours tending her extensive flower and vegetable gardens. After retirement, their travels spanned farther, traveling frequently to both coasts, and other major US cities, often with children and grandchildren in tow. Joe survives of the home.

Other survivors include her beloved three sons, Ryan Fike (Tiffany); Joshua Fike (Grace); and Tyler Fike (Elizabeth), along with 7 grandchildren (Lily, Jackson, Autumn, Jett, Davis, Axel, and Harvey), all of Lawrence, who were the absolute joy of her life. She is also survived by her sister, Sandra Stogsdil, Shawnee, KS; brother, Jared Combs (Adonna), Columbus, IN; sister, Sonja Randall (William), Wichita, KS; and sister, Karla Anderson, Almena, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Jan Lee Combs.

A visitation will take place from 6-7 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2025 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. Funeral services will take place the following day, Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044, with a light lunch to follow in Brady Hall.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Lawrence First United Methodist Church, or the American Cancer Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home: P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Online condolences may be sent at www. rumsey-yost.com.