Janis Donna Harnish, 84

DEADWOOD, S.D. - Janis Donna Harnish, died peacefully on April 5, 2009, in Deadwood. She was 84. Janis and her beloved husband Douglas, currently residing in Lead, grew old together, knowing the best was yet to be. In addition to Doug, grateful to have shared Jan's life are her four daughters, Deborah (Paul) Strassels, of Rapid City; Christina (Garry) Stegall, of Fredericksburg, Va.; Lisa Harnish, of Spearfish; Mary (Paul) Kopco of Deadwood; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Janis was born March 1, 1925 in North Tonawanda, N.Y., to Clarence and Ila Martin (both deceased) where she and her older brother Kenneth Edward (deceased) were raised on a farm. After graduating from Newfane Central High School, Janis served her country in World War II as a surgical technician in the Women's Army Corps at Ashford General Hospital in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. She married Douglas H. Harnish Jr. on May 4, 1946. In addition to being a devout Episcopalian, Janis was an active volunteer in numerous service organizations including the American Legion, Girl Scouts of America and Fairfax (Virginia) Hospital Auxiliary, to name a few. She enjoyed raising flowers and was an avid collector of antiques. She adored animals, particularly her childhood lamb Bitty Baa and her dogs Duke and Sam. She dearly loved her family and friends, all of whom will greatly miss her humor, compassion, thoughtfulness, love of nature and sense of style.