Shirley Jane (Aitken) Gronniger, 87, of Wichita, Kansas passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 peacefully at home with family surrounding her. She was known as Janie and as Gma Janie to many in the family and to many friends. She was born June 1, 1932 to Henry Miller Aitken and Mildred Marie (Riley) Aitken near Severy, Kansas. She grew up in Fall River Kansas and graduated high school there. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 22 years, Earl J. Gronniger. Her only sibling, brother Donald Max Aitken and his wife Eleanor of Fall River KS, also preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter Gail (Pickell) Hacker and husband Darrell, her son Chris Pickell and wife Lucinda (Hecht) all of Wichita, Kansas. Gma Janie to 7 grandkids, 8 great grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Also survived by Earls children, Dale Gronniger and Richard Gronniger (Jeannie) and their 5 children and 10 grandchildren.

Janie came to Wichita when she was 19 and her first job was at the VA Hospital near Wichita Kansas, it was not in the city limits at that time and she lived in the student nurses dormitory at the VA and worked as a clerk, doing the payroll and other accounting jobs. She then went on to work at KGE and TG&Y and in later years at Cessna doing Federal Aviation paperwork for the small engine planes both in Wichita and in Winfield Kansas. After one of the aviation layoffs in the aircraft industry she worked at St. Joseph Medical Center doing payroll and survived the merger of St. Joseph and St. Francis into Via Christi. Her office moved to St. Francis and then she retired. She was a homemaker for several years while raising her kids Gail and Chris Pickell. She enjoyed being a seamstress and designer of the many clothes she sewed for her daughter. Creating costumes and many other items over the years. She turned to quilting after retirement and was a member of the Bee-Attitudes quilting group at the Aldersgate Methodist Church. She married Earl Joseph Gronniger on Jan 3, 1981 and they lived in the home that he had built and raised his two boys in. Located in West Wichita, many people have fond memories of the Gronniger Orchard near Kellogg and Tyler. Earl was most proud of the large delicious peaches he grew in the 3 1/2 acre orchard behind their home. After Janie and then Earl's retirement from the City of Wichita Water department they were able to travel and they had great stories and fond memories of their trips. Earl hunted deer and elk and Janie hunted deer with him.  Janie lived in West Wichita in her own home for many years, and in October of 2019 she moved in with her daughter Gail and her husband Darrell, in their new home. Janie and Gail had a combination sewing room and many great ideas and plans for future Creations! Janie had developed a special relationship with her son-in-law Darrell and they were great "Coffee" buddies. Janie will truly be missed by family and she had a great many stories of her life that she has shared over the years.

There will be a Celebration of Life service on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central Ave, Wichita, KS at 2:00 pm.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com