Jane Reiff Wilks, passed away on December 22, 2025. Jane was born on May 4, 1945 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She attended school in Fort Wayne, graduating as a proud South Side High School Archer. She attended Miami University of Oxford, Ohio and received a degree in education. She married her high school sweetheart, John Wilks, and lived in Bloomington, Indiana, teaching elementary school while her husband finished law school. After moving back to Fort Wayne, she became a parent with the birth of her oldest son followed by her fraternal twins, a son and a daughter.

While a full-time parent, she volunteered in the community, serving as president of the Junior League of Fort Wayne, and donating her time to Plymouth Congregational Church and to the PTA. As her children grew older, she turned her passion of community service and servant leadership into a career, serving as Executive Director of Leadership Fort Wayne for twenty years. Upon retirement, she became Executive Secretary for the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne. She also continued her involvement in the community and served on numerous boards, including but not limited to American Cancer Society, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, Erin’s House of Grieving Children and the South Side Alumni Association. Her professional career culminated in the receipt of the Sagamore of the Wabash award in 2019. She was a member of the book club Happy Bookers and played bridge and mahjong. Her favorite role, by far, was being Mimi to her four grandchildren.

Facing a terminal illness, she continued to serve her community and bring joy to the people around her. Jane had a light and a warmth that was unmatched, providing guidance and comfort to all she met. Even in her final weeks, Jane continued to put others first and quickly became a favorite among her caregivers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Anne Reiff, her husband, John Wilks, her siblings Martha Beardsley and John Reiff, and daughter-in-law Tina Wilks. She is survived by her three children, Patrick (Laura Frost) Wilks, Andrew (Meagan) Wilks and Katherine (Jason Hall) Zemen, four grandchildren, Cecilia, Norah, Claire and Emmett as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jane’s memorial calling will be on December 30, 2025 from 3 pm - 7 pm at FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 6557 N. Clinton Street. A celebration of life will be held on May 4, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Erin’s House for Grieving Children, the South Side High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund or Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute.

As Jane would have said, “It is what it is. No one gets out of this life alive.”