Jane Yergert

Jane Yergert

September 25, 1933 – July 9, 2023

Jane Yergert, 89, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Orpha Jane (Henkensiefken) Yergert was born to Gerhard and Orpha (Farmer) Henkensiefken on Monday, September 25, 1933 in Chanute, Kansas. She was the youngest child. Her siblings included Ruth, Hazel, Earl, Hank “Dudley”, and Bill. Jane spent her early years in Kansas until the family moved to Canon City for her father’s health. She graduated from Canon City High School in 1951. While attending Canon City High she was the DeMolay Queen and loved playing in the marching band. After high school graduation she attended Western State College then joined her parents in La Junta.

In the summer of 1954, she met Clarence Yergert while working at a local drive-in restaurant. Clarence and Jane were married on December 26, 1954 and were married 66 years before Clarence’s passing in 2021. Once married, Clarence and Jane lived in Pueblo before moving to Panama where Clarence was in the Army. The couple lived off base and Jane “adopted” three Panamanian boys and regularly spent time with them, cooked and sewed clothes for them. They made many memories living in Panama and spoke fondly of the time spent there.

Clarence and Jane moved back to La Junta, specifically the Bent’s Fort area, in 1959. Here they began their life farming and raising a family. Jane was a hard-working farm wife and mother doing chores in her home and helping with the farming and animals. After her three children were in school, Jane went to work at North School. First as a classroom aide, then as an aide in reading classrooms. From there, she worked as a librarian at La Junta Junior High and Columbian Elementary. She especially loved all the children she worked with and sharing books with them.

After Jane retired, she loved following her grandchildren and attending all their events. Clarence and Jane attended as many Tiger home and away sporting events as they could, her favorite being baseball. She was known for her cooking and baking, always having a windsock on the clothes-line, fishing, and playing marbles. She was a founding member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and loved the people and her time at and for the church.

Jane is survived by her children, Laurie Guthals of Denver; Mitch (Debbie) Yergert of Arvada; Carol (Greg) Noll of La Junta; grandchildren, David (Katie) Yergert of Erie, CO; Jacob (Kjirsten) Yergert of Aurora, CO; Daniel (Grace) Yergert of Lafayette, CO; Sara Jane & Emily Noll of La Junta; and great-granddaughter, Skylar Reign Yergert; and many nieces & nephews also survive. She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Yergert; parents, Gerhard and Orpha Henkensiefken; siblings, Ruth, Hazel, Earl, Hank “Dudley”, and Bill.

A Memorial Service will be held, Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Holy Cross/St. Andrew’s Church at 621 Raton Ave. in La Junta, with Pastor Julie Britsch officiating.

If you wish to honor Jane, please read to a child. If you want to make a donation, please donate to Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta or a children’s program at the library of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.