November 13, 1937 - November 8, 2024

Janet Joan Auer, age 86, of Normal, IL, passed away at 2:33 a.m., on Friday, November 8, 2024, at her residence. Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday November 14, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church, Normal IL. Rev. Dr. Kent King-Nobles will be officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington, IL. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL, and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday at the church. The family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, Normal IL, or the St. Jude Children's Hospital. Arrangements are being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL.

Janet was born November 13, 1937, in Ft. Wayne, IN, the daughter of Ellsworth and Dolores Rondot Crick. She married Myron C. "Jake" Auer on November 1, 1958, in Ft. Wayne, IN. He passed away on July 10, 1989.

Surviving are four children: Brian (Donna) Auer, Normal, IL, Brenda (Lloyd) Weir, Normal, IL, Beth (Tom) Armstrong, Streator, IL, Bruce (Wendy) Auer, Normal, IL; seven grandchildren: Julie (Troy) Watson, Bloomington, IL, Lee (Mary) Eilts, Kansas City, MO, Alex Auer, Nashville, TN, Michael Eilts, Kansas City, MO, Cody Auer, Normal, IL, Travis Auer, Bloomington, IL, Jacqualyn Eilts, Ottawa, IL; six great-grandchildren: Hannah and Emma Watson, Melanie Copeland, Jordyn Taulbee, Florence Eilts, Jameson Auer; two brothers: John (Pam) Crick, Columbia City, IN, Jim (Kathy) Crick, Ft. Wayne, IN; special friend Bonnie Moser who called Janet every morning to make sure she was OK.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Phyllis (Dan) Imbody, Martha Crick; and grandson, Brandon Auer.

Janet graduated from Ft. Wayne South Side High School. General Electric took Janet & Jake from Ft. Wayne, IN, to Jonesboro, AR, where Brian and Brenda were born. A transfer to Bloomington-Normal provided the birthplace for Beth and Bruce. GE also took them to Amherst, OH, for two years and later back to Bloomington.

Janet worked at Lincoln Life Insurance Company in Ft. Wayne, IN, as a restaurant server in Bloomington, IL but later settled in at Forget-Me-Not Flowers where her artistic and creative abilities flourished. She says her greatest accomplishments were her family and extended families who were never far away and provided wonderful support throughout the years but particularly the past several months of greater health challenges. She enjoyed the Tuesday night bowling league at Circle Lanes.

Janet raised her kids in a proper Chicago Cubs and Bears home and always enjoyed high school and college basketball with Jake (especially Indiana basketball) and her family. She was an amazing mother starting with the birth of Brian in a new hometown and state 570 miles away from any friends or family support. "We would pick her again" her kids proudly proclaim.

Janet is no doubt reconnecting with Jake, Brandon, other family members, but especially her sister Phyllis. The two were peas-in-a-pod and loved each other like best friends. The darkest days in her life were after the loss of Brandon in 1995. He vowed to "be her little man" after Jake passed in 1989. Janet is a member of the First United Methodist Church, Normal IL, Vesper Circle of the Church and the United Methodist Women. The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for the care and comfort shown to Janet and the family.

Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com

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