Jan Marie Newton, born June 6, 1920, was united with Jesus early this Monday morning, Jan. 22, 2018, along with many other loved ones including her mom and dad Marie Selin and Ernest Fleisher; her brother Henry Walker; her adopted mom and dad Rachel and James Nelson of Fox Island, who raised her with unreserved love and affection; and her adopted brother Bob and sisters Marie and Marion. Jan was 97 years old.
Jan went to Lincoln High in Tacoma, graduated in 1938 and married Jack Woodrow Newton in 1941. Jack died in 1999, but they had a fabulous life and marriage with two kids: Jack Gary Newton and Jan Marian Newton Lovegren of Lynden.
Their children Jack and Jan (juniors) married Janet Robben and Chris Lovegren and each couple then had two kids: Jan Marian’s Melissa and Nathan are both of Lynden. Jack Gary’s Jack Ty is of Port Orchard and Elisa is of Lynden. Nathan and Melissa married Hosanna and Uri Tamminga (yes, bro & sis) and had eight kids. Melissa and Uri gave her Tryste, Luthien and Aoife, Nate and Hosanna made Noa, Anja, Blaise, Jack (the third??) and Christian. Jack Gary and Janet’s kids married Anna of Gig Harbor and Evan Jones of Lynden. Jack Ty and Anna begot: Grace, Brianna, Aliyah, Joelle, Lillyanna and Jack (of course). Evan and Elisa begat: Max, Lucy, Harvey-Jack, (yep another Jack) Catherine and Adele. So!!! Orphan girl Jan, (nee Jenny) got two kids, eight grandkids and 19 great-grandkids with three of them being Jacks. Jan used to say you only need two Jacks to open! These Great Grands will marry and give her ???? So far, there are about 29 in the family who can eat two big turkeys very easily.
Jack and Jan Sr. worked hard and built a life to admire and love. Jack and Jan had a dream to live on the water. They bought property in Gig Harbor, Washington, and floated a house by barge to pilings when everyone said it could not be done. This beach place with wide decks gracing the Puget Sound was the home to 589 or more parties with turned turkeys, dancing and laughter. The Mr. and Mrs. Dance Club filled with their friends, cleared the floor when Jack and Jan did the swing and jitterbug to Glen Miller’s “In The Mood.”
They built a fine insurance agency, and toured the states in their very cool fifth-wheeler upon retirement. Boy, they had fun! And Jan was the belle of the ball!!
Jan Newton started going to Wiser Lake Chapel in 1996 and has loved it ever since. Jan grew in Christ and the nurture of the Word with her beloved congregation.
PLEASE COME CELEBRATE JAN’S LIFE on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. in Wiser Lake Chapel, 7121 Guide Meridian, Lynden, or on Washington State route 539, Lynden.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.