Phyllis Lee Janke

Feb 8, 1935 -

Jul 6, 2023

Phyllis Lee Janke, 88, died on July 6, 2023, at her Eagle River, Alaska, home, surrounded by her loving family. During her illness, her family remembers her patience, unfailing sense of humor and how much she loved having her family around her.

She was born on Feb. 8, 1935, in Rives Junction, Mich., to Max and Ruth Foster. She met and married her husband, Joe Janke Jr., in Nevada in 1953.

In 1958, she and Joe followed a longtime dream to live in Alaska and moved their little family to Anchorage. They homesteaded in the South Fork valley in 1962. Phyllis raised many children, six of her own and many others she called her own over the years.

In the early '80s, she became a general contractor and established South Fork Construction. She was instrumental in the creation of South Fork Hydro in 2012, to carry on her husband's vision for a hydroelectric plant to harness the power of the South Fork of Eagle River where it flows through their homestead.

She is survived by her children, Patti Wilson, Dan Janke (Carmen), Max Janke and Margaret Janke (Jerry Jacobs), Tim Hess, who joined the family as a teenager; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sister, Jeanne Potter (David) of Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph F. Janke Sr.; children, Joseph F. Janke III (Cindy) and Suzanne E. Janke (Craig Otto); and son-in-law, Ted Wilson.

The family invites all who knew and loved Phyllis to join them at a celebration of her life on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at 2 p.m., at ACF Church, 16620 Brooks Drive, Eagle River, AK 99577. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory may be made to the Chugiak Eagle River Historical Society, P.O. Box 670573, Chugiak, AK 99567.