Jeanne Knowles Balke, 68, of Lake Charles died at 7:05 PM on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Balke was born February 1, 1939 in Washington, DC and raised in Chevy Chase, MD. She graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase Senior High School, attended the University of Maryland and Strayer Business School. Mrs. Balke worked as a secretary for the FBI and the National Institute of Health. Upon her marriage to Franklin Bert Balke, his job brought them to Amarillo, Wichita Falls and Odessa, TX, Casper, WY, Houston and Midland, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Lafayette, LA and Lake Charles, where they have resided since 1998. Mrs. Balke was a member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, where she was a member of Episcopal Church Woman and Seniors of St. Michael's. She was also a member of the Lake Charles Newcomers Club and the Bridge Club. She was an avid square dancer and ballroom dancer, belonging to the Tempo Dance Club, The Cajun Capers Square Dance Club and the Swinging Rebels Square Dance Club. A lover of animals, she was also a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Mrs. Balke is survived by her two daughters, Carole Ferriss and husband Mark and Cynthia Shrewsberry and husband Keith; two grandchildren, Jason Bennie Ferriss and Kevin Ross Shrewsberry, all of Lake Charles; and brother, Danny Knowles of Gaithersburg, MD.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Bert Balke and parents, Jack and Louise Knowles.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at St. Michael and All Angel Episcopal Church. Revs. James Lueckenhoff and Richard McClain will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and continue at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service.

The family request that donations be made to St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 123 W. Sale Lane, Lake Charles, LA 70605 or LA Paw, P.O. Box 4964, Lake Charles, LA 70606.