Jane Van Ranken

Jane Wilson Van Ranken was born on January 28, 1939 on a farm outside of Attica, Kansas to Ray E. and Dorothy Wilson. She passed at the age of 80 years in Anthony, Kansas at the Anthony Community Care Center.

Jane was raised in Attica, Kansas and graduated from Attica High School, in 1958. She was a resident of Kiowa, Kansas for the past ten plus years.  Jane married Earl Van Ranken on January 1, 1985.  He was the love of her life, and they enjoyed a wonderful life together, although it was a short time due to his passing in November 1997.

At the beginning of her high school years she moved out to the farm where she lived and worked for Archie and Christina Crenshaw.  She could plow a field as well as any man and would work as hard as anyone else. These early years of hard work would help give her the strength to get through some of life’s struggles.  She was a hard worker her entire life.

Jane spent many years living and working in Harper, Kansas.  She owned and operated a greenhouse in Harper; her love of flowers and plants continued all through her life. Many of the family can recall times spent helping in the greenhouse or the garden.  It was hard work but she always kept going until the day was over.

Jane cooked in several restaurants in Harper and Barber Counties and would often get requests to make sure she was the one preparing the meals for the regular customers.  She took pride in her work and when things got a little hectic you could hear her moving things around and probably a few words to go with the situation.   Then there would be her little jokes, she thought they were funny even if you didn’t!

When she wasn’t working you could find her fishing or looking for antiques.  As one of her close friends commented, “fishing was her passion and she was darn good at it.”  If you were lucky enough to spend time with Jane you would soon be looking for antiques.  She lovingly called this going ‘junking’.  Her enjoyment was found in garage sales, estate sales and wheeling and dealing with other antiques dealers to get that special treasure.

Jane loved animals and children, and had animals most of her life.  She didn’t have children, however she was blessed loving her family and friends’ children and grandchildren.  Sometimes she would just enjoy acting like a kid with them; the ornery side would certainly show itself on these times.  There would be trouble for the kids if they tried to get by with some of her crazy antics. They loved how she could be fun and play with them.

Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Ray E. and Dorothy Wilson; her sister, LaRay Duvall;  her husband, Earl Van Ranken; nephews, Scott Duvall and James Duvall.

She is survived by a sister, Nora Collier of Parker, Colorado; nieces, Susan Duvall of Wichita, Kansas, Rodgina Duvall of Kiowa, Kansas, Jodi (Bob) Leitner of Castle Pines, Colorado, Angie Blurton of Broomfield, Colorado; nephews, Bill Duvall (Christina Kaumans) of Kiowa, Kansas, David (Betty) Duvall of Anthony, Kansas, Lonnie (Rose) Duvall of Great Bend, Kansas, Shawn Collier of Wichita, Kansas, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Service for Jane is Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Lanman Funeral Home Chapel in Kiowa.  Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Forest Park Cemetery near Anthony.  Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Kiowa.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be given to Rivercross Hospice through the funeral home.