Janet Fuiks
Janet Rae Fuiks, 86, of Englewood, Colorado, formerly Denver, died Saturday evening, April 19, 2025, at Brookdale Meridian in Englewood.
She was born on August 22, 1938, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to Hazel (Bunes) and Lorain (known as Doc) Ehlers. The family lived in Anson County, Wisconsin until the family home was built in Jim Falls, near Chippewa Falls, a three-acre parcel on the river that allowed for ample fishing and enjoyment of the outdoors. She was the third daughter born to their union, preceded by her sisters Jeanne (1934) and Lois Elaine (1936-1936). Younger brother Larry Richard (1942-2010) was born into the family four years later.
Jim Falls is where Jan spent her formative years, where she went to school in a one-room schoolhouse with children of all grades, until junior high where she would bus into Chippewa Falls and would continue to do so through high school. In her childhood, they did not have a lot of money. At one point, they did not even have indoor plumbing or electricity. Her father worked hard and had several jobs and eventually built their own house along the river. Jan had memories of the family breeding minnows in spring water holding ponds. At a young age, she would then sell them as bait to fishermen along the river, as well as completing other little tasks to earn some extra money for the family.
After completing high school, she took the step of leaving home for a secretarial job at the First Methodist Church of Evanston. It was during this time that she met Russell Fuiks, as he was active with the church and theater community, during a production of Brigadoon. She married Russell Melvin Fuiks on April 12, 1958, at the Methodist church in Jim Falls, Wisconsin. Shortly after, they moved to Evanston. Russ, a recent college graduate, landed a job with Western Electric, and Jan took college classes at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Russ had a career opportunity that moved them to California in the fall of 1962. In early 1963, they moved into the home on Pointe Claire Drive in Sunnyvale; that would be where they raised their family. Their son Kenneth Allen (1963-2009) was born in Palo Alto, David Keith (1969) in Mountain View, and Andrew Paul (1973) in Santa Clara.
During her time in California, she worked in many ways using all her skills to be the wife and mother that her family needed. Some of her accomplishments include organizing the Blossom View Baby Sitting Co-Op and heading an elementary school task force to address mathematics for kindergarten through third grade. Jan was big on church fellowship. Many of her and husband Russ’s friendships and outings were church-related. She was also very interested in making sure her children learned the principles of Jesus’s teachings. She and Russ participated in many church activities over the course of her life; particularly with their home church in California, Sunnyvale Presbyterian; from teaching Sunday School, leading a Vacation Bible School, and participating in Mariners, Catamarans, Stephen Ministry, Deacons, and Marriage Encounter, among others. In addition to this busy schedule, she made certain to allow time for her family to travel around through many of the states. Even during all of this, she worked to improve herself and thought that she would try for a career in the travel industry and took classes with this goal in mind at DeAnza Community College.
In 1986, Russ’ work led the family to move to Colorado, where they settled in Littleton, Colorado. Once settled, and with her youngest child well established in school, all her skills and experiences allowed her to land a job with Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon). While on paper she may have been listed as an executive assistant, she used all her talents to be a good steward of company resources. She had a reputation for following the rules, with a little bit of toughness, but with unmatched reliability. Her church family was with Grace Presbyterian Church until its relocation to Highlands Ranch. She retired in 2000, which allowed her to place more focus on her family and interests. In retirement, Russ and Jan joined First Presbyterian of Littleton and were active there until recently.
Jan could be called a renaissance woman; she possessed a broad intellectual curiosity; it was a truth. She had such a keen eye for nature, capturing it in her oil paintings and in later life, photography. When she learned what digital photography could do, she was all for it, allowing her to curate her work as she went. Her love of nature and the outdoors is shared by so many in her family. The trips that she planned and the places that were traveled created lifelong memories.
Her family was important to her, and no one could deny that she didn’t love all of them. Love was not simply the words, it was in the actions that she took from sharing photos and knowledge that she curated from magazines, newspapers, and books. She would call you to share something that she had learned and would ask you about your experiences. This endless cycle of learning and sharing was never limited to the family; anyone who looked as if they had seen or experienced things would be a target for her love of ongoing learning.
She loved her sons so very much. Her eldest son Ken brought her much pride. Ken was the best representation of both of his parents in his skills, abilities, and passions. From an education standpoint, Ken earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Living in northern California as he began his career, he was instrumental with his contributions to the computer industry during the formative years of Silicon Valley, mirroring the trajectory of his father’s career. His success in his professional life allowed him to pursue his passions with his wife Sybil. Like his mother, he had a passion for photography, documenting many of the places that he traveled to. Ken was a certified scuba diver and earned his pilot’s license, and his parents were proud and honored when he took them on short flights over California.
She had a close relationship with son Daive, his wife Britt, and their children Morgan and Kendi. Daive made her proud with a bachelor’s degree in marketing & business and was inspired by her to create art. He is very hard-working to keep his family supported. Morgan and Kendi were always ready to lend a helping hand in the garden or with anything Jan asked for. The proximity of the family had allowed for a special connection, as it allowed Jan and Russ to be very much involved in their adventures. Because of their closeness, it fostered a deep trust that allowed her to share with them when she was nervous, anxious, and needed more support. That familial relationship, particularly with daughter-in-law Britt, who is someone that shares many of her interests and hobbies, is one that everyone is thankful for.
Her relationship with son Andrew, his wife Corey, and their children Kate and Max, was one where she could share the love of learning and creativity. Andrew achieved an associate’s degree in graphic design & illustration, having also followed in Jan’s footsteps by wanting to produce art. She was close to her granddaughter Kate, and proud of her as Kate has a talent for art much like Jan. Her relationship with Max was one of encouragement to ask questions and to continue learning. Jan valued education and was always proud to share that her daughter-in-law Corey, achieved her master’s degree in fraud management.
Jan is survived by her husband of 67 years, Russ; her children Daive, with wife Britt, and Andrew, with wife Corey; grandchildren Morgan, Kate, Kendi and Max; her sister Jeanne, and a community of friends and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her son Ken, her parents Lorain and Hazel, sister Lois, and brother Larry.