Janice Marie "Jan" Wickenhauser

Janice (Jan) Marie Wickenhauser, 74, died at 2:48p.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at Barnes- Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, surrounded by her family. Born October 30, 1949 in Alton, IL, she was the daughter of the late Edward Wickenhauser and Joan (Ruckman) Wickenhauser. She is survived by her two sisters, Julie Prinkey (Rich) of Saint Charles, MO, and Susan of Godfrey, IL, and by her seven brothers, Larry (Cam) of Hamburg IL, Jeff (Joanne) of Kirkwood, MO, Mike (Lynn) of Godfrey, IL, Phil (Mary) of Godfrey, IL, Pat (Melissa) of Crestwood, MO, Ted (Jerry Kelling) of Clayton, MO, and Jack of Godfrey, IL, along with 25 nieces and nephews, and 19 great-nieces and nephews. Jan was lucky enough to be able to spend her last years living with her niece Sally (Gersman) and Chris Lang of Saint Louis, MO, and their daughter Ellie. Jan cherished this time living with family. Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her significant other Patricia Bruce. Jan became the matriarch of the family after her parents passed away. She made every family member feel like they were “her favorite”. Being close to her family and friends was her highest priority. She would regularly call every one of the family members throughout each month, and attend numerous birthday parties, graduations, baptisms, sporting events and theater/choir productions. She loved having smaller luncheons and dinners with each family to have quality time with them. Jan was given a purpose driven life to shower her family with selfless love and support. She had the highest degree of moral character and gave 100% of the best she had to everyone around her. She was a kind, forgiving and blessed woman that radiated a magnetic force of love. She felt that her main goal, and most rewarding purpose for her life, was to care for everybody in the family. Anyone that met Jan would agree that she was the most caring person, with a heart of gold. Jan graduated from Marquette High School in 1967. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, MO, and her Master’s degree from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. She was a trail blazer for woman in the workforce and worked in executive level Human Resource positions throughout her career, working at Illinois Terminal Railroad, Germania Bank, Missouri Water Company, Argosy Gaming and Penn Gaming. Jan retired in 2017. A visitation will be held at Gent Funeral Home Inc. in Alton, IL on Thursday June 20, 2024 from 4-8 p.m. A private mass will be held at a later date. Memorials to be made to National Shrine of St. Jude and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Tributes

Janice Marie "Jan" Wickenhauser

October 30, 1949 - June 12, 2024