Juanita F. Vinke, 81, of Sheridan died Friday, April 9, 2004, in Sheridan Memorial Hospital.

At her request, cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be 2 p.m. Friday at the home of her daughter, 644 First Ave. W.

Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Mrs. Vinke was born Oct. 23, 1922, in Midwest to Loy and Nova Lee (Kelly) Roush. She grew up and attended schools in Gillette and was a 1941 graduate of Sheridan High School.

She worked in an ammunitions factory in Portland, Ore., during World War II. She returned to Sheridan and married Albert Vinke in 1951.

She was a nursing assistant at Sheridan and Johnson County memorial hospitals and was a housemother at the Wyoming Girls School before opening Juanita's Barber Shop. She was the first female barber in Sheridan.

She enjoyed barbering, painting, fishing, dancing, music, flowers in the mountains and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and one grandson.

Survivors include a son, Durwin of St. Louis; four daughters, Cheryl Robertson of Tracy, Calif., and Rhonda Hoyt, Lynnette Vinke and Marla Vinke, all of Sheridan; a sister, Eileen Farman of Sheridan; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The Sheridan Press - April 12, 2004.