Janet Marie Lambert

Janet Marie Lambert, 72, a former resident of the Chapman Community, died Thursday, October 15, 2009, at Valley View Professional Care Center in Junction City, Kansas. Janet was born February 12, 1937, in Battle Creek, MI, the daughter of Harold and Helen Conklin Hattendorf. She attended grade school and graduated from high school in Battle Creek, Mich. Janet was a Junior Olympics swim champion at the age of 16. She held several swimming records including records set for the annual Leroy Sparks Goguac Lake Swim; the Janet Hattendorf trophy is given to the women's overall winner. She enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 13, 1955, at Detroit, MI, during the Korean Conflict, and she was discharged August 23, 1956, at Fort Sill, OK. While there she met and married Maurice McLeod to whom she had one child. They later divorced and Janet returned to Battle Creek. She worked at Kellogg's for several years before accepting a position in Civil Service at the Battle Creek Federal Center in 1962. She was employed at the Federal Center until 1967 when her job transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas. She served as a Supervisory, Accounting Technician for 29 years at Fort Riley, until her retirement in 1996. She additionally served as a member of the Kansas National Guard from 1967 until 1974 during the Vietnam Campaign. She was married to Jack Andrew Lambert on March 17, 1983, after which the couple took up residence on a small farm south of Chapman, Kansas. After her retirement in 1996, Janet worked at the Chapman American Legion Post #240 for nearly ten years. She served as Chaplin for the Post and in addition worked as part time custodian for the Legion bingo hall, bar and meetings room, filling in as bartender as needed also. She accepted additional responsibility for collecting cans for recycle and utilizing the proceeds for the purchase of American flags which were donated to the City of Chapman for ceremonial display during holiday celebrations. Janet loved her farm and the cats, dog, chickens, ducks, turkeys and guinea hens she raised there. Into her very early 70's in spite of several illnesses she continued to mow her own grass, tend to her farm family and support the American Legion as best she could although she could no longer work there full time. In February of 2008, her health failing, she took up residence at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Junction City, Kansas. While there she volunteered in the laundry, folding clothes. Janet additionally took upon herself to purchase and plant hundreds of flowers for the benefit of other residents at the nursing home during her two summers there. Due to the unfortunate closing of the Good Samaritan in September 2009 she was moved to the Valley View Professional Care Center where she spent her final days. She was a member of the Chapman American Legion Post #240 Auxiliary and member of the National Association for Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Jaime of Junction City, Kansas; her beloved uncle, Frank Conklin and family; niece, Linda LaRochelle and family; and numerous other cousins and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Conklin of Battle Creek; her parents, Mr. and Mrs, Harold (Helen) Hattendorf; her sister, Patricia (Hattendorf) McClure; one nephew, Dennis McClure; and her beloved husband, Jack Lambert. The family will have a private burial of the ashes at the Battle Creek, Memorial Park at a time as yet to be determined. The Londeen Funeral Chapel in Chapman is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Chapman American Legion Post #240. and sent in care of the Londeen Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 429, Chapman, KS 67431.