Janette Ahrens

Janette Louise Buckbee (née Ahrens, December 10, 1925 – April 24, 2016), also known as Deedee Ahrens,^[1] was an American figure skater.^[2]

Janette Ahrens

Personal information
Born	(1925-12-10)December 10, 1925 Saint Paul, Minnesota
Died	April 24, 2016(2016-04-24) (aged 90) Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Figure skating career
Country	United States
Medal record Representing United States Ladies' Figure skating North American Championships 1947 Ottawa Ladies' singles 1945 New York Ladies' singles Fours' Figure skating North American Championships 1941 Philadelphia Fours

Life and career

Ahrens was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on December 10, 1925.^[3] She attended the University of Minnesota during the 1940s.^[1] Ahrens competed as both a single and pair skater, first with partner Robert Uppgren and later with Arthur Preusch. She also competed in fours with Uppgren, Mary Louise Premer, and Lyman Wakefield Jr. and won the 1941 North American title. They were called the "St. Louis Four" and were the first team in history that defeated Canada.^[4] After becoming a professional skater, she taught skating.^[5]

Ahrens married Norman Simmons DeCoster in 1947;^[6] they divorced and she married Allen Buckbee in December 1985.^[7] During the 1970s, Ahrens lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota,^[8] but later resided in White Bear Lake.^[9] She died in Mahtomedi, Minnesota on April 24, 2016, at the age of 90.^[9][3]

Competitive highlights

Ladies' singles

Event	1941	1942	1943	1945	1946	1947
World Championships[5]						6th
North American Championships[4]				2nd		3rd
U.S. Championships[4]	9th J	2nd J	3rd	2nd	2nd	2nd

Pair skating

(with Uppgren)^[4]

Event	1942	1943
U.S. Championships	2nd	2nd

(with Preusch)^[4]

Event	1944
U.S. Championships	2nd

Four skating

(with Premer, Uppgren, and Wakefield)^[4]

Event	1941
North American Championships	1st