It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Janet Gaye Burke, 73, of Grand Forks, ND on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at her home.

She is survived by nieces Amy (Burke) Foraker, Amanda Burke and Sheryl Burke, nephew, Stuart Burke and sister in law Anne Burke, as well as many cousins, and close friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Kay Burke and brother Larry Burke.

Janet or Jannie as most would call her, was born December 17, 1951 in Rapid City, SD, the daughter of Francis and Dorothy (Brown) Burke. She attended Cosmetology school and owned several hair salons in Grand Forks throughout her life.

Jannie was passionate about music and the arts. She was previously a volunteer at Fire Hall Theater in Grand Forks for many years and would help with hair, makeup, and costumes. She also designed and decorated sets for many of the productions at Fire Hall Theater.

Jannie had a big heart and was always helping others. It didn’t matter if you were family, a friend, or someone she just met. In turn, she would always make sure to show her gratitude when others helped her. She was often making lemon bars or fudge as thank you gifts or because she knew someone was going through a hard time and they needed cheering up.

In her later years, Jannie began to have a lot of health issues, but that never stopped her or changed her outlook on life. She was a bright light, and someone you could always count on to be in your corner. She will be greatly missed.

The Burke family is planning a celebration of life that will take place in the spring of 2027, following her inurnment at the Drayton Cemetery.

Inurnment: Drayton City Cemetery, Drayton, ND.