Janet LaRae Weichers, 72, of Hutchinson, Kansas, passed away suddenly on February 24, 2018 in Forney, Texas. She was born on November 24, 1945 in Mason City, Iowa to Harold and Frances (Mahlstadt) Riekens. Janet grew up in the small town of Sheffield, Iowa with her mom Frances, sisters Lana and Marianna, Grandma Iva, and other close family. As a child, she worked at the movie theater in Sheffield selling popcorn. She attended school in Sheffield up to the twelfth grade.

Janet met her husband Bob when they were both teenagers. Bob was from the small town of Dumont, Iowa, just a short distance from Sheffield. Janet was united in marriage to Robert Duane "Bob" Weichers on March 21, 1964 in Dumont, Iowa. They were married for 53 years. Bob and Janet had three children: Michele, born in 1964; Rob, born in 1970; and Brent, born in 1981.

Janet worked most of her life in the manufacturing industry. She started working at United Hydraulics Corporation in Hampton, Iowa in 1972 doing clerical work and eventually worked her way up to become Purchasing Manager for the company. When the United Hydraulics plant closed in 1987, she began looking for another job and was hired as Purchasing Manager for Master Machine Tools in South Hutchinson, Kansas. Janet worked at Master Machine Tools from 1987 to 2002. When the Master Machine Tools plant closed in 2002, she began working at Tru-Circle Aerospace and later TECT Aerospace in Wichita, Kansas. She began her much-deserved retirement in late 2014.

Janet loved quilting, sewing, gardening, reading, traveling, decorating her house, playing computer games, and spending time with her family. She loved red climbing roses, hot beef sandwiches, and planning her next vacations in retirement. She was as dependable of a person as they come. Janet could always be counted on to do what she thought was right, whether it was in work, in family, or in life. She will be dearly missed by those who loved her.

Janet is survived by her husband Bob Weichers of Hutchinson, Kansas; daughter Michele (Steve) Chiales of Corona, California; sons Rob Weichers of Kansas City, Missouri and Brent Weichers of Wichita, Kansas; brother-in-law Ken Rothman of Cincinnati, Ohio; and grandchildren Clayton Chiales and Bailey Chiales, both of Corona, California. She was preceded in death by her father Harold Riekens, her mother Frances Fielding, and her sisters Lana Riekens and Marianna Rothman.

Janet was cremated, as per her wishes. A celebration of life service will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 17, 2018 at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 N. Washington St., Hutchinson, Kansas.