Janice (Jan) A. Boerkircher

Janice A. 'Jan' Boerkircher of  Cozad passed away January 26, 2019 at the Cozad Community Hospital at the age of 88. Jan was born May 4, 1930 in Plainview, Nebraska to Raymond and Bertha Hillis. When Jan was 9, the family moved from Creighton to Gothenburg to start a Western Auto Store. Jan graduated valedictorian with the Class of 1948 and attended Northern College of Education in Greeley, Colorado, for approximately two years. She played in a flute trio while at college. In high school, her outside class activities involved band (Jr. Director) with flute and piccolo, chorus, Triple Trio, Y-teens, etc. Jan was Nebraska Junior American Legion President during the war years. On April 23, 1950, Janice was married to Roger Boerkircher, son of Hugo and Maude Boerkircher, at the Methodist Church in Gothenburg. To this union a son, Brent Lee, was born on March 18, 1951, an early anniversary gift! Jan taught Sunday School, sponsored youth groups, as well as taking part in many committees at church and in the communities of Gothenburg and Cozad. Jan worked as secretary to the principal during her senior year of high school and after college, and secretary to the superintendent after her marriage. CNPPID came calling in a short time with a job offer, which she accepted. Roger and Jan bought the Gambles Store in Cozad and the family moved there in January of 1960 and started managing the business on February 1. The store was expanded to sales in furniture, appliances and floor covering. Roger and Jan received the Distinguished Service Award from the Cozad Chamber in 2001. Jan was President of the Ladies Golf Association, Lady Jaycees, sang for the Charter meeting of Cozad Elks, and sang for over 65 years in the Cozad United Methodist Church Choir, and was and avid bridge player. She also enjoyed Husker games, raising and racing thoroughbred horses and especially watching Haymaker football when Brent played varsity and was a member of the 1969 Shrine Bowl Team, as well as his wrestling matches. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband. Survivors include her son, Brent (Mary) Boerkircher of Maxwell; granddaughter, Kira (Taylor) King-Bertin of Houston, TX; great granddaughters, Collins and Kaleyo King-Bertin; grandchildren by marriage, Holly McCance of Lexington, Kelvin (Victoria) Leighton of North Platte and Heidi Schultz of Naples, FL; great grandchildren, Destani McCance, Brooke Rascon, Brianna Wisecup and Jacob and Kempton Leighton; great great grandchildren, Lily and Layla Rascon.