Jan Jursnich

Jan Jursnich, died on November 8, 2024. This obituary was written by Jan because she was best at describing her life.

An avowed people-keeper and reunion junky, high school, family, and college reunions were highlights of her later years. She attended eight reunions in 2002. She was amazed and thrilled to have lived long enough to attend her 50th and 60th college reunions at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. At her 50th she located the home she lived in from 1941-1943. She was the oldest of three daughters, born Janet Lee Porter, to Lewis and Leona (Niles) Porter, on September 17, 1934, in Vancouver, Washington. Lewis was a teacher, primarily Vocational Agriculture, who moved his family around the state of Washington as his employment changed. Jan lived in eleven houses during the first seventeen years of her life.

 In Washington State she attended three elementary schools and two high schools, graduating from Nooksack Valley High School in 1952. She graduated from Washington State College (now university) in 1956, paying for her education by working in the fields of Whatcom County Washington, at the C.S Kale Cannery in Everson, Washington and in college dining halls.

 In Seattle, Washington on June 15, 1957, she married Ken Hall, a college classmate. The young couple resided in Mountain View and Los Altos, California before relocating to Davis in 1969. Three children were born to them: Tracy, Cory and Tara. Ken and Jan divorced in 1979.

Jan taught in a variety of early childhood settings: first grade, kindergarten and Pre-School. She served as Director-Teacher at Davis Community Church Nursery School from 1976-79. Most of her professional life, however, was devoted to the Head Start Program with Sacramento City Schools, as a classroom teacher and as a Resource Teacher. Following her retirement in 1998 she served on the Policy Council of Yolo County Head Start and later for Migrant Head Start. From 1999 - 2008 she was a federal review team member for Head Start.

On December 23, 1987 she married Ed Jursnich, a former Davis teacher and administrator. She embraced her new stepchildren, Vicki, Ludi and Ray.

To stay on the cutting edge of fashion she relied heavily on clothing from local thrift stores. She was a strong proponent of social justice; an avid crossword puzzle addict, in spite of her ability to spell almost any word three different ways; an enthusiastic but sloppy gardener; and a fan of classic country music. She loved to travel. She dabbled in genealogy and in 2005 wrote a short booklet of ancestor biographies for her family. True to her Virgo sun sign she kept her spices in alphabetical order and the clothing in her closet sorted by color. Jan was known for her somewhat irreverent sense of humor, her love of warm weather, a penchant for all things chocolate and fermented juice of the grape. She had a friendly manner and a warm smile. She was often outspoken, and her conversations sometimes laced with colorful expletives. 

 She cherished time spent with her grandchildren and liked to believe her life might be described as stated by her grandson Connor, when at age 12 he exclaimed, "Oma, You're a good woman!"

 She is survived by her children Tracy Hall and his son Julian Dietrich, of Bloomington, Indiana; Cory Hall (Marilyn) of Saint Petersburg, Florida; and Tara Anderson (Robert), sons Connor and Mitchell of Elk Grove. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Ludi Zarick of Kansas City, her children Kelsy (Jordan) and Cole, Ray Jursnich (Shelly) of Valley Springs, and his two children, Ashleigh and Jack of Imperial, MO. In addition, she is survived by her stepson-in-law, Scott Carhart (Helen) of Poway and his daughter, Mikaela (Aaron), of Spokan. She also leaves one sister, Virginia Holtz (Art) of San Jose and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were stepdaughter, Vicki Jursnich Carhart, grandson, Evan Porter Anderson, her husband, Ed Jursnich, and daughter-In-Law lIka Dietrich, and her sister Karen Smith (Frank) of San Bernardino.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice. At some point there will be a celebration & remembrance social TBD.