Janet (Cook) Kuenkler, formerly of Old Saybrook (pictured at right from the 1937 Spy), died unexpectedly of heart disease on May 6, 2010.  She was born in Kenosha, WI, on October 23, 1919, the youngest (by 12 minutes!) of the four daughters of George Cook and Edna Katinka Howgee Cook.

Janet spent her childhood in Kenosha, graduated from Kenosha High School and married Gilbert Paul Kuenkler, also of Kenosha, on August 26, 1939. They were married nearly 60 years, until Gilbert died in June 1999.

In 1942, shortly after their eldest daughter arrived, the family moved to San Carlos, CA, where their younger daughter was born.  They returned to Connecticut in 1956.  Janet and Gilbert retired to Old Saybrook in June 1974, enjoying many happy years there in a house across from Janet's beloved "water".  

She leaves her daughters, Jo. A. Thune-Larsen and her companion of many years, Lawrence J. Greenberg of Waterford, CT, and Linda D. Ward and her husband, David, of Essex, CT; two much-loved grandsons, Petter N. Larsen of Norwichtown, CT and Justin B. Ward of Alameda, CA, his wife Sara, and their two young sons, Race and Marston Ward.  Janet had many nieces and nephews with whom she kept in contact.

She was pre-deceased by her husband and three sisters, one her identical twin, who died in November of last year.

Janet delighted in gardening, reading, card playing and almost all types of music. She was a member of the Bell Choir of the First Church of Christ, Congregational for several years and enjoyed playing her home organ.  In recent months Janet had been living at the Hawthorne Inn on Hilton Head Island, SC, close to her elder daughter, where she was thriving - making new friends and having new experiences.  Burial will be private, at the family's convenience.  Donations in her memory will be welcomed by the Acton Public Library Gift Fund, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.

Published by Hartford Courant on May 14, 2010.