Shirley Jane Fricker Kirchner died July 30, 2021, at KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, after a brief illness. She was 75.
Jane was born February 28, 1946, at Ingleboro Hospital, Smith
Center, KS. Her parents were Keith and Merna (Upp) Fricker. Jane grew
up on a farm north of Lebanon, KS, and, along with her brother, Roger,
helped her parents with farm and household chores. She graduated from
Lebanon High School in 1964 and attended college at Fort Hays State
University for two years. College was not her “cup of tea”, however, so
she returned to Smith County and was hired by the Smith County State
Bank and Trust. When she retired 46 years later, from the position of
Vice-President and Assistant Trust Officer, Linton Lull announced that
she had successfully passed her probation period.
On January 27, 1968, Jane married James Kirchner at the Methodist
Church in Lebanon, KS. To this union were born two daughters, Jennifer
and Jessica.
Jane was a member of the Smith Center Church of the Nazarene. She
served as treasurer for four local organizations: Daughters of the
American Revolution, Red Hats, Garden Lore Club, and the Lebanon Alumni
Association. Jane & Jim were youth group sponsors for YFC in the
70’s and 80’s.
In addition to these organizations, Jane served her community in
other significant ways. She was treasurer of Meals on Wheels and, along
with Jim, served as volunteer coordinator for 25 plus years. She
worked on the Home Alone Board for 16 years. She was treasurer of Smith
County Hospice since its beginning until it was incorporated with
Northwest Kansas Hospice, and was its board chair until her death.
Jane and Jim loved to travel. They have been to 49 of the 50
states, and to five continents. They made numerous mission trips
together, traveling to Belize twice, the Philippines twice, and to
Zambia six times. In between these trips, Jane was busy gathering
supplies for hygiene kits and school supplies for backpacks as well as
clothing and other needed items.
Jane is survived by her husband, Jim, Smith Center, KS; daughters
Jennifer Boehler, and husband Mike, Laurel, Montana, and Jessica Kort,
and husband, Brian, Juniata, Nebraska; grandchildren Dakota, Dalton and
Darby Boehler and Cameron, Braiden and Kiera Kort; brother Roger
Fricker, and wife, Laura, Lebanon, KS; Brother in law Richard Kirchner
and wife Marian, Kansas City, MO; sister in law Mary Jo Arneson and
husband Jim, Seward, NE; aunt Freda Groves, El Dorado, KS; and numerous
nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Click HERE for service details.