Janis Darlene (Nelson) Wicks

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Janis Darlene (Nelson) Wicks, 87, Walnut Creek, Calif. died peacefully at home, Dec. 21, 2019, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and husband, Robert, after saying a loving goodbye to each one.

 Memorial services will be held 1 p.m., March 21, at Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center, Lafayette, Calif.

Janis was born in Hartington to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Nelson.  Janis graduated from Wayne State College in Nebraska, earning a teaching certificate in Home Economics in 1953.  Her

first teaching job took her to Portland, Oregon, where she met fellow teacher Robert “Bob” Wicks on a ski trip.  Though the weekend ended in a broken leg for Jan, it seeded the beginning of a well-knit marriage which lasted a lifetime.  Jaunty and ambitious travelers when they met, Janis and Bob found they shared the values of family cohesion, hard work and love of learning.  Janis and Bob were married Aug. 18, 1955, in Hartington, then returned to live in St. Helens, Ore.  Both continued teaching until Bob found a promising position at Acalanes High School, Lafayette, Calif.  The young couple moved to Walnut Creek in 1958.

Survivors include her husband, Bob Wicks, Walnut Creek, Calif.; children, Marilyn Macdonal, Aurora, Colo.; Kelley Griest, Moraga, Calif.; Craig Wicks, Petaluma, Calif.; Kimberly Wick, Florence, Italy; and Sahna Wicks, Walnut Creek, Calif.; sisters, Clarice (Gary) Glidden and Dianne Caffrey; and brothers Don (Judy) Nelson and Terry (Sandy) Nelson; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

     Memorials may be directed to the American Breast Cancer Foundation or to the Wayne State Foundation.