Janice (Jan) Patricia Weingate Buhler was born in Grand Rapids on April Fool’s Day 1946, as the fifth of six children of Joseph and Blanche Weingate. The announcement of her birth was a story told by the family for years, as two of her brothers, who were away at war, thought it to be an April Fool’s joke.
Possibly because of this well positioned entry into the world– humor and laughter were a through line of Jan’s life, from childhood through to her last years during her battle with dementia. Jan’s life was filled with baking, dancing, music, storytelling, and traveling with close friends and family. Her smile, kindness, and laughter will be remembered by all.
Jan was preceded in death by her loving husband, Keith Buhler (2019), who she was married to for almost 55 years; as well as siblings, Gene Mauseth, Alice Karczewski, Chuck Weingate, Bill Weingate, aunts, uncles, and her mother and father. She is survived by her only daughter, Gena Buhler (Keith Theodore); sister, Virginia Weingate (John McCauley, Devin McCauley); and several loving nieces and nephews.
The family sends special thanks to the caring teams at Sunrise of Cascade and Hospice of Michigan for the thoughtful care given to Jan through the last four years of her battle with dementia, as well as the many friends and neighbors who continued to lend a hand.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from 5:30-7:30 pm at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Thursday, March 16, 2023, at St. Robert of Newminster, 6477 Ada Dr SE, Ada, MI 49301, with visitation one hour prior.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Jan’s memory to University of Michigan’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Neurology University of Michigan – Office of Development 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., Suite 650
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3273 Make a Check To: Regents of the University of Michigan, On the Memo Line write: Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center, or Frederik Meijer Gardens, 1000 East Beltline Ave. N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49525, or Hospice of Michigan, Donation Processing Center, 989 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada, MI 49301.
6 Responses
So sorry for your loss Gena. We have good memories playing cards with your parents. Jan loved to play cards.
We are so sorry for the loss of your mom and sister. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
I remember Jan’s sense of humor well.
I am very sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
With deepest condolences,
Who someone who you love passes away it’s like part of yourself is gone. Stay safe and healthy. Cousin Bob ????????
So sorry to learn of Jan’s Dementia and Death. We enjoyed her work at
We are so sorry to learn of Jan’s Dementia and Death! We enjoyed working with her at the Lowell UCC Congregational Church.
ucc Lowell Congregational Church.
I would see Jan at Sunrise when I took her Communion from St Robert’s until I wasn’t able to any more
. We would go outside and walk around and talk about flowers. Jane Lackus Wood