Janet Lucille (Retzer) Fanska, 94, of Kansas City, MO, formerly of Calhoun County, IL, passed away peacefully in Louisville, KY, in the presence of family on August 2, 2013.

Raised on a farm in Illinois she was her high school valedictorian in 1937, went on to attend Blackburn College, and earned a Master's Degree from the University of Illinois in 1943. Married in 1945, five of her children have Master's degrees and all have advanced training or a BA degree.

She will be remembered for her sense of humor, generosity, kindness and unassuming nature. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lucy Retzer, her brothers, Fred and John, her sister, Ruth, and her husband, Rudolph Robert Fanska. She is survived by her sisters, Anna Radovich and Betty Schoepfle; her ten children: Rudolph Jr., Mariann, Charles, Peggy, Susan, Janet, John, Nancy, William, and Elizabeth; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Her funeral Mass will be at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 900 NE Shady Lane Dr., Kansas City, MO, at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 8, 2013. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be given to Blackburn College (Illinois).