Janice (Jan) Annette Yonker was born on September 16, 1933, in Jackson, Minnesota to the late Roy and Verna (Holecek) Nestegard. She was baptized at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Jackson and later confirmed in that same church. She attended public school and graduated from Jackson High School with the class of 1951. After graduation, she followed her passion and earned her degree in Registered Nursing, graduating in 1954.

On December 26, 1954, Jan was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Edward G. Yonker. Jan followed her husband to Germany where he served in the US Army. After two years, they returned home to Minnesota and resided in Jackson. In 1967, they purchased a farm north of Bergen and continued farming to 2018. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Maureen, Margret, Edward II (Bud), and Marcia. Through the years, Jan was a nurse at the Lakefield and Windom hospitals and worked as an RN in hospitals for 15 plus years and taught Health Occupations in Windom and Luverne and performed health physicals until retirement in the early 2000's.

Jan was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Windom where she was past president of WELCA, a member of WELCA, choir, taught Sunday School and was the church wedding coordinator. She enjoyed many enjoyments in life which included, being part of community plays and musicals, singing, Bridge Club, gardening, flowers, watching kids and grandkids in sports and 4-H, reading and crossword puzzles. Jan had an empathetic and caring nature, which was shown in her lifetime of nursing. She dedicated much of her life to helping others. Jan was also known for her beautiful voice. She enjoyed sharing her gift of song with the church as a soloist.

Jan passed away on Friday afternoon, October 6, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom at the age of 90 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of sixty-eight years, Edward Yonker of Windom; three children, Maureen (Eric) Herbst of Sweeny, TX; Ed II (Nicole) Yonker of Bingham Lake; Marcia (Steven) Dewald of Columbus, NE; five grandchildren, Taylor, Kaylee, Evan, Austin and Braden; four great-grandchildren, Avery, Wajer, Colt and Tripp; one brother, Doug (Dee) Nestegard of Jackson and many nieces and nephews.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Verna; infant daughter, Margret; and brother, David Nestegard.

Blessed be the memory of Janice Yonker.