Jan Siefkes

Jan Gardner Siefkes, former owner of Siefkes Travel Service, was born on November 24, 1940 in Gracemont, OK, and died on August 23, 2021 in Wichita.

Jan is survived by daughters Joan Moore (Wichita) and Julie Siefkes (Palm Harbor, FL), and granddaughters Grace and Eve Moore (Wichita).  She is also survived by sisters-in-law Paulette Gardner of Oklahoma City, Marilyn Hansen (Floyd) of Wichita and Rhonda Serafin (John) of Arlington Heights, IL and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Jan was predeceased by husband, John, parents Claud and Bertie Gardner; siblings Freda (Cochran), Jay, Hiland, Ted and Mac; nieces Linda Middleton, Karen Gardner, and Emily Serafin; and nephew Robert Chapman.

Jan and John Siefkes owned Siefkes Travel Service together from the mid 1960's to 1979, when John was killed in an accident. Jan ran the travel agencies by herself until they closed in 1991.  She was very involved in ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) on a national level, and served as the President of the Missouri Valley Chapter. She was also a proud member of ICTA (Institute of Certified Travel Agents) where she earned her CTC (Certified Travel Consultant).  John and Jan also owned Shadybrook Development Corp. and they developed the land from a wheat field and two horse stables into the beautiful neighborhood that it is today.  The city of Wichita named "Siefkes Lane" off of 143rd Street East in Jan's honor.

Jan was honored to sit on the boards of the Wichita Symphony, the Junior League of Wichita, the United Way of the Plains, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, the Wichita Crime Commission, and the Boy Scouts of America Quivira Council. She was a proud member of First Presbyterian Church.  Joan and Julie want to thank the nurses and staff of the Catholic Care Center, both Long Term Care and Memory Care, as well as the Hospice Team at Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, all who did a wonderful job of taking care of their mother over the last 11 months.

Jan's service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Tuesday, August 31st at 11:00 a.m. Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, August 30 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Broadway Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wichita Symphony (www.wichitasymphony.org), the Kansas Humane Society (www.kshumane.org) or Junior League of Wichita Legacy Endowment Fund (www.jlwichita.org).