People all over Michigan continue to mourn the loss of state Rep. Janet Kukuk after she died Sunday following a 5-year battle with cancer.

Gov. John Engler will announce the date for a special election to replace Kukuk. The announcement is expected sometime after her funeral on Wednesday at the Bethel Church of the Nazarene in Macomb Township. In cases like this, special elections to fill empty seats are usually held after a funeral service out of respect.

Kukuk won her second term this year in the Nov. 7 election. The second term, which is scheduled to begin in January, will be served by her replacement.

“Michigan has lost a compassionate voice of the people with the passing of Rep. Kukuk,” Engler said in a written statement. “She was a hardworking lawmaker and a longtime activist in the Macomb County Republican Party. She will be deeply missed.”

After her initial diagnosis, Kukuk underwent treatment, which caused the disease to go into remission. Her health restored, Kukuk ran for the 33rd House District after her husband Alvin Kukuk left the House in 1998 because of term limits.

“I served with Janet in Appropriations,” said Jon Jellema, R-Grand Haven, speaking of their time together on the House Appropriations Committee. “She had very clear opinions and worked hard to represent her constituents. She was an honest woman - you knew when there was a disagreement.

“I was glad for my time with her - that’s what I take away.”

Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus also had a close relationship with the representative.

“I developed a professional and personal relationship with Janet and her husband, Al, both of whom served in the Michigan Legislature, unselfishly representing the families of eastern Macomb County,” Posthumus said in a written statement. “The Legislature has lost one of its most hard-working, honest and respected members.”

During the summer of 1999, Kukuk was diagnosed with cancer again and left the Michigan Legislature to undergo treatment. After treatments were considered successful, Kukuk returned to the House and worked to pass legislation to ban the sale of young children through the black market, making the crime punishable by 20 years in jail.

Kukuk also worked for revisions to Michigan’s Informed Consent abortion law.