JANIE ELISE (GIBSON) NIRK

JANIE ELISE (GIBSON) NIRK, a resident of East Deep Creek North of Potlatch passed away March 25, 2026, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane Washington. 
Janie was born on August 17, 1936, in Georgetown, South Carolina to Ada and Jim Gibson joining brothers Ed and Robert and her sister Dottie.

She graduated from Winyah High School and Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, with a degree in Secondary Education. She taught school in Arlington Virginia where she met Ron Nirk who was serving in the US Army at Arlington National Cemetery. They were married on July 15, 1961, in Georgetown, South Carolina.

Janie accompanied Ron to the Nirk home on East Deep Creek north of Potlatch and became an active partner in RB Cattle, raising registered Black Angus breeding stock. Janie began her teaching career at Potlatch High School in 1961 where hundreds of students were fortunate to have classes under her before her retirement in 1994. She had earned a master's degree in education during that time from the University of Idaho.

Janie did not slow down after retirement but continued to serve in many capacities with the Idaho Education Association holding several offices.
She founded the Sharing Tree in Potlatch and over the next forty years helped hundreds of families celebrate Christmas. She became involved with Gritman Medical Center working with the Auxiliary and later the Board of Directors where she served as Vice-Chairman. She was proud to see the growth of Gritman, including the opening of a new clinic in Potlatch. She received the Love Award for Volunteer Excellence in 2021 from the Idaho Hospital Association.

Janie and Ron were active in the U.S, Angus Association and many civic groups including the Potlatch Historical Society. They were honored with the White Pine Tree Award from Potlatch Historical Society. Janie was instrumental in the rechartering of the Mountain Home Grange and was in a Pinochle Club since 1985.

Ron passed away June 14, 2014. They were married for 53 years. Janie is survived by many nieces and nephews as well as the hundreds of Potlatch students whose lives she helped shape.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions in memory of Janie Nirk be made to the Potlatch Historical Society, P.O. Box 5, Potlatch, Idaho 83855, the Potlatch Ambulance Fund, Potlatch, Idaho or charity of choice.

There will be a Graveside Service at Freeze Cemetery & Church April 9th at 11 A.M. 

Following a Celebration of Life, May 9th at 11 A.M. at the Church of the Nazarene, Princeton, Idaho.

Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, WA is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at www.kramercares.com

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