Jane “Janie” LuAnn (Leckner) Engelmann, 67, of Aberdeen and formerly of Miller, passed away Sunday, July 4, 2021, surrounded by family and dogs at her daughters’ home in Rosemount, MN after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 16, 2021, at United Methodist Church, Miller with Rev. Teresa Whetsel officiating. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 2021, followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Reck Funeral Home, Miller.

Janie was born August 27, 1953, to Robert (Bob) and Dorothy Leckner in Miller, SD.  Janie attended school in Miller for the full twelve years, graduating in 1971. She enrolled at SDSU for one year before going to nursing school, graduating as an LPN.  She was united in marriage to Gene Engelmann in 1974, and had two children, Shawn and Ashley. She worked in Miller at the hospital until early 1985 when the family moved to Aberdeen, SD. While working full time, Janie advanced her nursing career, getting her bachelors RN degree. Janie absolutely loved nursing and it showed with respect from doctors, co-workers, and patients with whom many lasting friendships still remain. She worked, first, at Dakota Midland Hospital and later transferred to St. Luke’s, both in Aberdeen. While at St. Luke’s, she worked in the oncology and urology departments before moving to critical care PACU for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2015.

Janie enjoyed traveling, meeting new people, attending concerts, entertaining friends and family, cooking and spoiling her grandson. Her greatest obsession was dogs, any dogs, all dogs. On her 60th birthday Janie and Gene went to the Best Friends Society in Kanab, Utah to volunteer work services for rescue dogs. There was always at least one dog in the house with (at one time) seven, several being rescue dogs. Never a limit and always an open invitation.

Grateful for having shared Janie’s life are her husband of 47 years, Gene; her son, Shawn (Andrea) Engelmann; her daughter, Ashley (Krishna) Singh and their son Bodhi; and siblings: Jim (Connie) Leckner and Bobbi (Gary) Larson, and all her beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

Janie is preceded in death by her parents: Bob and Dorothy; infant grandchild, Emery Engelmann; and nephews: James Leckner, Chet and Todd Danburg.

Memorial contributions can be made to any local animal shelter/humane society.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Jane’s arrangements.

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