Mary Janice ‘Jan’ Bloemker

Mary Janice (Jan) Bloemker, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away at her home on Saturday, April 26, 2014, in Independence, Missouri at the age of 78. There will be a private family service held at Heartland Cremation and Burial Society in Raytown, Missouri. Jan will be buried at Park Lawn Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jan was born to Ina Pearl and John Vincent Markland on October 8, 1935, in Mount Airy, Missouri. She graduated from Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1953. After high school, Jan attended William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri for one year. Although they attended the same high school, Jan met her husband of 55 years, Gerald (Jerry) Bloemker, on a blind date set up by their two best friends, Norma and Gale Boydston. They were married on December 19, 1958 and 11 years later were blessed with one son, Michael Douglas Bloemker. Jan was an avid quilter, artist, baker, and cat-lover. But above all things, Jan loved being a mom and a grandma and looked forward to her nightly phone conversations with her son. Together, Jan and Jerry enjoyed attending their son’s road races, playing cards with friends, going on lunch dates, and spoiling their grandson and two grand-cats.

Jan is survived by her husband Jerry, her son and daughter-in-law Mike and Katherine Bloemker, and grandson Griffin Michael Bloemker of Shawnee, Kansas. She is also survived by her nieces Carol Johnson of Smithville, Missouri and Patty Halsey of Kirkland, Washington.

Jan was a wonderful loving person. She taught her family the inestimable values of generosity, integrity, courage, and perseverance. She brought joy and happiness to everyone who knew her. She will be missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice.

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