Janice Rae Straka

Janice Straka, 86, of Brookings, South Dakota, passed away on November 11, 2026, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, South Dakota.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 20, 2026, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service.

Jan was born in Flandreau, South Dakota, to Wilber and Arnola Gullickson on June 21, 1940. She was raised on a farm between Brookings and Flandreau. From grades 1 through 8, she attended Coleman Country School and then graduated from Flandreau High School in 1958. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern State University (formerly Northern State Teachers’ College) in 1962. With diploma in hand and an adventuresome spirit, she started her career as a teacher in Rapid City, Battle Creek, and California. She subsequently earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and enjoyed a 25-year career as a hospital administrator and CEO of a multilevel retirement community. She appreciated working in church-sponsored organizations, with an emphasis on the dignity of life. Jan mentored ten individuals through the Administrator-in-Training program, helping them become licensed nursing home administrators in California.

Jan married William Douglas in 1969 and was widowed in 1974. She married Emil Straka in 1988. They lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area until retirement. Jan enjoyed outings at their Sierra Mountain cabin, including fishing and hiking. After retirement, Jan and Emil moved to the Central Coast of California, where they lived for 20 years. During retirement, she held several consulting and interim CEO positions and logged many volunteer hours. As a lifelong Lutheran, she participated in and served in many ministries and was often the “go-to” person for help with administrative, personnel, and government regulations. She served on the board of a homeowners’ association and was president of the Five Cities Newcomers’ organization. She found artistic pleasure in making greeting cards, creating well over 1,000.

Together, Jan and Emil enjoyed traveling, Bible studies, lifelong learning classes, and game groups. Jan visited 48 of the 50 states. Her favorite destination in Europe was Norway, where she learned more about her Norwegian heritage. She was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings.

Jan made many trips from California to South Dakota for large gatherings with cousins and family, as well as class reunions. After living in California for 51 years, she and Emil moved to Brookings, South Dakota, to enjoy the many blessings of being close to family and living in “the real America.”

Jan was preceded in death by her first husband, William Douglas; husband, Emil; parents, Wilber and Arnola Gullickson; brothers, Dene Gullickson and Gene Gullickson; sister-in-law, Jan Gullickson (wife of Gene); brother-in-law, Verlyn Nelson (Lorelee); and nephew, Ryan Gullickson.

She is survived by her sister, Lorelee Nelson; sister-in-law, Gwen Gullickson; step-sons, Randy, Jeff (Kathy), and Brian (Sara), and their families; grandchildren, Dean (Marisa), Danielle, Sam, and Evie; great-grandchild, Luke; seven nieces; two nephews; and their families, along with a whole host of cousins.