Jan L. Cruikshank
November 13, 1946 - February 28, 2011
Jan L. (Wendling) Cruikshank, 64, of Anderson, died peacefully on February 28, 2011 at home surrounded by loved ones following an extended heroic battle with metastatic breast cancer.
Jan was born November 13, 1946, in Rushville, Indiana, to parents Don F. Wendling and Carolyn L. (Peck) Wendling. She grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana, graduating from Shelbyville High School (1965) and from Butler University (1971) with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. When not raising children, she taught music at both the elementary and secondary school levels. Later in life (2006) she also graduated from massage therapy school. She married Donald Burgoyne Cruikshank, Jr. on October 18, 1997.
Jan was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Anderson Ward), serving in many capacities, most recently as ward music chairman, Primary pianist and accompanist for the ward choir. With her husband Don, she accepted a mission call from her church to Temple Square in Salt Lake City (2006-08) where she made excellent use of her massage therapy skills in helping to rejuvenate weary sister missionaries. She also served for two years with Don as an ordinance worker in the Columbus, Ohio, Temple of the Church. She loved music and was an accomplished pianist and singer, the latter evidenced by the three years (1994-97) she sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Locally, she was a member of the Anderson Symphonic Choir (1997-2009).
In addition to her husband Don, Jan is survived by her three siblings, Christina Caswell, Don Wendling, Jr. and Ken Wendling; six daughters, Misty (James) Cheatham, Kelly (Gregory) Hughes, Sarah (Spencer) Fitzgerald, Amanda (James) Creighton, Carolyn (Michael) McHugh and Kathryn (Bryan) Smith; three sons Matthew (Kim) Phillips, Spencer (Amanda) Phillips, and Jonathan (Christa) Phillips; on step-daughter, Carol Lynn(David) Ward; and eighteen grandchildren: Kyle, Zachary, Aubree and Ryan Hughes; Christian, Brooklynne and Camden Fitzgerald; Kadence Fulks; Ashlynne and Hailey Phillips; Jackson Phillips; Simon and Louie McHugh; Salem Smith; Danielle, Rachel, Ryan and Logan Ward.
Jan was preceded in death by her parents and her former husband, Victor Lee Phillips.
Services will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, March 4 at Anderson Ward building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with President Tom Burdett and Bishop Carl Black officiating. Friends may call from 5 PM until 8 PM, Thursday, March 3 at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service and Friday, March 5 from 9:30 am until the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center at Indiana University; IU Foundation, Showalter House, P.O. Box 500, Bloomington, IN 47402
E-mail condolences may be sent to [email protected].