Fundraiser: Help Janet after sudden loss of her fiancé, John

Our beloved friend John Waschka passed away on December 22, 2024. Among the many friends and loved ones who mourn him, he is survived by his fiancé, Janet Belke. In addition to being the love of his life, Janet cared for him through double knee replacement surgeries, worked with him to stabilize his diabetes, improve his blood pressure, and facilitate his weight loss. They were not just a couple, they were constant companions. Janet and John were a team with hopes and dreams. Janet helped him to clear out his house in Euless, Texas, and make it ready for sale. Those of us who know her, know how hard she worked to help him organize, de-clutter, downsize, clean, paint, and arrange repairs.

After his knee replacements, John moved to Colorado Springs, CO in August of 2023 so that they could live together and plan their future. John proposed to Janet at North Hills Mall in Hurst, Texas, a place where they had hung out together as teenagers. Janet did not want an engagement ring. Instead, he gave her a dragonfly pendant.

Over the past two years, John had a series of health complications that they were working to resolve. Janet had temporarily stopped working in order to care for him, with the hope of eventually finding a position to work remotely and make travel possible. Since his medical appointments were frequent and time consuming, John needed full time care. She took him to all of his medical appointments and was actively working with specialists to find a medication regimen that worked together. In spite of these obstacles, Janet and John were so happy together. She referred to him saying, "He is my person", and John told his friends he had never been happier. During that time, John and Janet also enjoyed life in the mountains, adopted a dog, travelled to Wisconsin (his happy place), and went back to Texas to celebrate the birth of his first grandchild, Elena. They had planned on a simple, private wedding ceremony in February, 2025. Sadly, that plan did not come to fruition. Although, they appeared to be making progress on improving John's overall health, he passed unexpectedly, having just been discharged from the hospital. He fell unconscious in the car a few blocks from their home. Janet made every effort to resuscitate John until the EMTs arrived. They continued with efforts to revive him, but to no avail. When all hope was gone, the EMTs assured Janet that she had done everything right and, despite everyone's best efforts, nothing would have saved him. He passed peacefully, without fear or pain.

Janet is heartbroken from losing John. All of their plans have evaporated. In addition to crushing grief, Janet must now face an uncertain future. With a mountain of debt piling up and no income to cover the bills incurred prior to his passing, Janet and Zaine are financially devastated and are likely facing foreclosure of their home. Because they were not yet married, Janet has no rights to any of John's assets, and no life insurance to give her some breathing room or time to grieve. John would never have wanted her to be left with such an enormous weight on her shoulders. Janet and her youngest son, Zaine, will need to rebuild their lives. With help and love from their family, she will eventually learn to cope with losing John, but currently she is in desperate need of support from anyone willing to help.

Janet's friends and I are asking for donations on behalf of Janet and Zaine to ease their current situation. It is our hope that this page will raise the money she needs to save their home, and pay the extensive expenses incurred during hers and John's efforts to improve his health. Please feel free to comment with positive messages, thoughts and prayers as well.

Thank you for your help.