Janet Ruth Steinkirchner

Janet Ruth (Teague) Steinkirchner (Grandma Goose) got her wings October 3, 2023 when she passed peacefully at home in the presence of her family.

She was born June 12, 1936 in Ottawa, Kansas to William Francis Teague III and Freda Verna Wolgast and was raised in Chapman, Kansas before going to study nursing at Kansas State University. She left college to marry a dashing Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, Joseph Daniel Steinkirchner, in Manhattan, Kansas on December 27, 1956, and moved with him to Honolulu, Hawaii.  The happy young couple grew to a family of four on that Naval base (Janet moved her young family home to Kansas prior to her husbands discharge in 1959, the military would not transport during advanced pregnancy).  Her family of four grew to a family of six during her years in Wichita, Kansas prior to moving to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1962, where the family continued to grow until they became a family of ten!

Janet worked as a cytotechnologist at St. Mary’s Hospital for a number of years in the 1970s, but left to raise her family, and share her amazing talents as a pianist accompanying both the children’s choir, and the adult choir at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Janet had a passion for water aerobics, and took classes at Mesa State College for a number of years--when they were looking for a new teacher, her spirit of adventure drove her to teach those classes for many years to follow. 

When her children were grown, she returned to her career as a lab technician retiring from Community Hospital in the early 90s.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandma, great grandma and great-great grandma and was always there for those in need. Jan was known for her selfless, gentle, loving and caring nature, and for treating all those she knew with unconditional love. We will all miss her feisty ornery nature and she will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Janet is preceded in death by her husband, naval officer Joseph Daniel Steinkirchner, her brother William Frances Teague IV, her parents, William Francis Teague III and Freda Verna Wolgast Teague, and daughter in-laws Kelli and Deena. Janet is survived by her children; Dan Steinkirchner (Rhonda); Anna (Dan) Fossum; Pat (Terese) Steinkirchner;Johanna (Darryl) Gracie; Steve (Teri) Steinkirchner: Michele Steinkirchner; Toni (Dan) Pond; Peggy (Jeff) Bolduc; 16 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Today we celebrate her life and all the special memories she gave all of us who knew her. Services will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on October 21st at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to HopeWest.