Our loss is heaven’s gain. On January 17, 2019, Janet Shirley Frank Hess went to her heavenly home. Janet, the daughter of Emil Otto Frank and Dorothy May (Hanson) Frank, was born February 3, 1933 in San Francisco, California. She spent her early years in California and Oregon.
She graduated from high school in San Francisco in 1951. Janet went on to continue her education at San Francisco Baptist College (’51-’52) and then entered the Galileo Nursing Program in San Francisco and graduated in 1962. Janet met Richard P. Hess in 1952 in San Francisco and they were married December 13, 1952. She made a decision to follow Jesus at the age of 14. Janet joyfully served for 40 years as a pastor’s wife along side Richard in seven Midwest churches.
Janet loved hosting guests, playing board games, cuddling her grandkids and collecting Asian décor and teapots. No visit was complete without a mandatory tea party, a rousting game of Monopoly and signing her guest book. Janet worked as an Obstetrics nurse for 30 years and loved caring for preemies, newborns and expecting mothers. She served as Church Camp Nurse and Lifeguard for many years while in the ministry. She was passionate about swimming, competing and winning multiple local Senior Olympics in Wichita, Kansas.
Janet is survived by her five children: Rebecca (Dan) Streblow of Colorado; Richard Hess Jr. of Arizona; Ronald (Twila) Hess of Indiana; Sharon (Mark, deceased) Lobb of Iowa; Randal Hess of California; 19 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.