Obituary for Jan Klausen
Jan went to be with the Lord in her home on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at the age of 67. She will be greatly missed by husband Peter, after nearly 46 years of marriage, sons Ryan (Katherine) and Jason (Deidra), her grandchildren Kaia, Kaden and Nevaeh, sister Susan (Joe) and brother-in-law Jens (Susan) nephews Greg (Karen), Paul (Catherine), Andrew (Danielle) and Mark (Thomas), niece Gillian (Marc), other relatives and many friends.
Jan didn’t want a funeral. In these times of Covid, it is difficult to do justice in remembering a loved one that has passed away as emergency measures have limited personal contacts. Hopefully the following thoughts/memories will provide a glimpse of the person she was and to honour her in some small way…and God too.
As we enter the world for the first time at birth, our earthly timeline begins. When we are born, we begin our lives as a beautiful, God-created being with no formal identity until we receive our first name from our parents. This label stays with us for the rest of our life. Over the years, our words and our actions give meaning to our name as we interact in a variety of situations with others over the course of our life. Our words and deeds become attached to us, like little sticky notes and become an integral part of who we are. They are our lasting personal legacy when we pass away. This is how we are remembered. So what are some of the key sticky notes that can be attached to Janice Louise Klausen?
Authentic/Real. She never really wanted to be called “Janice”, her formal name. She would always introduce herself with a warm handshake and say, “Hi, I’m Jan.” Hence, “Jan” became her username, with Klausen added as a formality when needed. She didn’t put on any airs. She was who she was, take it or leave it.
Honest/Trustworthy. You could always count on her for help and advice if needed anytime and followed through on any commitments the best she could. She was always honest, sharing her thoughts and opinions, in her own kind way, when asked. She wouldn’t lie, it wasn’t right and God did not want that.
Hard worker. She worked hard and capably at whatever needed to be done at home. If there was a job to be done, she would do it including digging holes for trees and plants, raking, moving rocks, digging trenches and building decks (3 in total) even tearing one large old deck apart. As office co-ordinator at Mono Amaranth Public School for 25 years, she handled the many challenges of a busy school with unceasing dedication, competently and efficiently. For this and her kind and welcoming manner, she was loved and highly respected by staff, students and parents over the years.
People Magnet. Her warm, welcoming and fun-loving personality, with an added smile and sparkle in her eye, would make you want to be with her. Her conversation with you would make you feel special. She would brighten your day and strive to make you feel comfortable. She was a great listener and conversationalist.
Kind/Compassionate/Caring. She had such a heart for people especially people who were struggling with personal issues. She treated people with respect and was always willing to go out of her way to cheer people up and make them feel good about themselves. These traits were also well used as a youth leader and co-leader for a teen girls’ support group at the then, Orangeville Baptist Church, for several years.
Loved Animals. Dogs were her favourite especially her deceased Rottweiler, Doogie and current dogs Harley and Suki. She always wanted to be a dog trainer, but didn’t get the credentials. However, she fed her passion for dogs by volunteering at the SPCA and PuppyTails Play Camp for several years and learned how to teach Harley agility. She didn’t like to see animals ill or in need of help. She brought a hummingbird back to life from near death, frozen on a perch outside in the Fall. She was out the door many mornings in her house coat rescuing birds that had hit a window, stroking, holding and warming them with her breath until they were ready to fly again.
Music Lover. She loved music especially contemporary Christian music. She could play the trumpet and guitar but really wanted to play the drums. For many years, she was a member of a ladies singing group that toured many churches and ladies conferences over the years. She loved to listen to her playlist of songs and you could often hear her coming way down the road, the car pulsating with music and her singing at the top of her lungs.
Loved to travel. She would spend hours on the computer looking up and booking accommodation for the several trips to Europe. She often said, “I love doing this!” She was also a superb navigator and could quickly use a map to reroute when the GPS failed.
Wise. Jan had this way of seeing things from a global perspective. She was great with her often mentioned “gut” feelings in offering solutions to issues or problems. These feelings were often right.
Great Sense of Humour. She could see the humour in so many things and would make people laugh at her sometimes off-the-wall quirky comments and antics. She loved making people feel comfortable that way.
Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother. Her boys and grandchildren were special to her and loved them dearly. She was dedicated to them and, over the years, would always make it a priority to spend time with them. She was known by her grandchildren as either Grandma or GM and they truly loved her kind, open, accepting, caring and fun-loving manner. She would often say to them “Make good choices.” She loved and was dedicated to her husband and always put him first… because she wanted to…that was the way she was with all her relationships.
Loved God. Jan had a deep love for and relationship with God. As Christ put us first by dying for us on the cross, Jan emulated that in her daily walk by putting others first before herself. She understood that God was in control of everything, even to the end of her life battling lung cancer. She believed that we do whatever we can here, He does the rest according to His will. She often shared the phrase, “Trust God and do good.” which she remembered from one of her favourite televangelists that truly describes what a Christian should do...and she did so every day.
A quote comes to mind, written by an unknown author, which seems appropriate for Jan and to so many others who have passed away:
Sometimes people come into your life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you but how they impacted your life in that time.
… and Jan did.
She’s not gone forever… she’s just changed her address.
Jan will be remembered fondly by those who knew her well and hopefully inspired by those who didn’t.
A Private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Donations can be made to either the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
A tree will be planted in memory of Jan in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. The next annual dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.
Jan didn’t want a funeral. In these times of Covid, it is difficult to do justice in remembering a loved one that has passed away as emergency measures have limited personal contacts. Hopefully the following thoughts/memories will provide a glimpse of the person she was and to honour her in some small way…and God too.
As we enter the world for the first time at birth, our earthly timeline begins. When we are born, we begin our lives as a beautiful, God-created being with no formal identity until we receive our first name from our parents. This label stays with us for the rest of our life. Over the years, our words and our actions give meaning to our name as we interact in a variety of situations with others over the course of our life. Our words and deeds become attached to us, like little sticky notes and become an integral part of who we are. They are our lasting personal legacy when we pass away. This is how we are remembered. So what are some of the key sticky notes that can be attached to Janice Louise Klausen?
Authentic/Real. She never really wanted to be called “Janice”, her formal name. She would always introduce herself with a warm handshake and say, “Hi, I’m Jan.” Hence, “Jan” became her username, with Klausen added as a formality when needed. She didn’t put on any airs. She was who she was, take it or leave it.
Honest/Trustworthy. You could always count on her for help and advice if needed anytime and followed through on any commitments the best she could. She was always honest, sharing her thoughts and opinions, in her own kind way, when asked. She wouldn’t lie, it wasn’t right and God did not want that.
Hard worker. She worked hard and capably at whatever needed to be done at home. If there was a job to be done, she would do it including digging holes for trees and plants, raking, moving rocks, digging trenches and building decks (3 in total) even tearing one large old deck apart. As office co-ordinator at Mono Amaranth Public School for 25 years, she handled the many challenges of a busy school with unceasing dedication, competently and efficiently. For this and her kind and welcoming manner, she was loved and highly respected by staff, students and parents over the years.
People Magnet. Her warm, welcoming and fun-loving personality, with an added smile and sparkle in her eye, would make you want to be with her. Her conversation with you would make you feel special. She would brighten your day and strive to make you feel comfortable. She was a great listener and conversationalist.
Kind/Compassionate/Caring. She had such a heart for people especially people who were struggling with personal issues. She treated people with respect and was always willing to go out of her way to cheer people up and make them feel good about themselves. These traits were also well used as a youth leader and co-leader for a teen girls’ support group at the then, Orangeville Baptist Church, for several years.
Loved Animals. Dogs were her favourite especially her deceased Rottweiler, Doogie and current dogs Harley and Suki. She always wanted to be a dog trainer, but didn’t get the credentials. However, she fed her passion for dogs by volunteering at the SPCA and PuppyTails Play Camp for several years and learned how to teach Harley agility. She didn’t like to see animals ill or in need of help. She brought a hummingbird back to life from near death, frozen on a perch outside in the Fall. She was out the door many mornings in her house coat rescuing birds that had hit a window, stroking, holding and warming them with her breath until they were ready to fly again.
Music Lover. She loved music especially contemporary Christian music. She could play the trumpet and guitar but really wanted to play the drums. For many years, she was a member of a ladies singing group that toured many churches and ladies conferences over the years. She loved to listen to her playlist of songs and you could often hear her coming way down the road, the car pulsating with music and her singing at the top of her lungs.
Loved to travel. She would spend hours on the computer looking up and booking accommodation for the several trips to Europe. She often said, “I love doing this!” She was also a superb navigator and could quickly use a map to reroute when the GPS failed.
Wise. Jan had this way of seeing things from a global perspective. She was great with her often mentioned “gut” feelings in offering solutions to issues or problems. These feelings were often right.
Great Sense of Humour. She could see the humour in so many things and would make people laugh at her sometimes off-the-wall quirky comments and antics. She loved making people feel comfortable that way.
Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother. Her boys and grandchildren were special to her and loved them dearly. She was dedicated to them and, over the years, would always make it a priority to spend time with them. She was known by her grandchildren as either Grandma or GM and they truly loved her kind, open, accepting, caring and fun-loving manner. She would often say to them “Make good choices.” She loved and was dedicated to her husband and always put him first… because she wanted to…that was the way she was with all her relationships.
Loved God. Jan had a deep love for and relationship with God. As Christ put us first by dying for us on the cross, Jan emulated that in her daily walk by putting others first before herself. She understood that God was in control of everything, even to the end of her life battling lung cancer. She believed that we do whatever we can here, He does the rest according to His will. She often shared the phrase, “Trust God and do good.” which she remembered from one of her favourite televangelists that truly describes what a Christian should do...and she did so every day.
A quote comes to mind, written by an unknown author, which seems appropriate for Jan and to so many others who have passed away:
Sometimes people come into your life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you but how they impacted your life in that time.
… and Jan did.
She’s not gone forever… she’s just changed her address.
Jan will be remembered fondly by those who knew her well and hopefully inspired by those who didn’t.
A Private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Donations can be made to either the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
A tree will be planted in memory of Jan in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. The next annual dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.