Jana Lea Kortus, God’s great herdsman and caretaker, was called home on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at the age of 58. She was the “Main” in Mainstream Farms and wife of Randy Kortus. Jana gained strength from their dairy farm throughout her battle with ovarian cancer. It was farm chores like milking, feeding calves or finetuning her skills on how to produce the next champion Jersey that grounded her. She was known for her photographic memory and remembering the birthdates and the dams and sires of all her cattle. Jana had the top-producing Jersey herd in the nation the last 10 years, with one of her cows holding the world record for production and another being the top lifetime milk producer. Nothing made her more proud than her family, her children and their successes in sports, 4-H, FFA and life.
Jana was born on May 27, 1958 in Bellingham to Robert and Myrna (Erb) Brandt. She graduated from Ferndale High School in 1976 and Washington State University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. Jana met Randy at the Northwest Washington Fair and, after dating for a time, they were married on April 24, 1981. Together they bought the farm at the end of Main Street in Lynden and went on to breed nationally known Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey cows. Jana exhibited beef and dairy cattle at many shows around the region, but nowhere more than at the Northwest Washington Fair for 48 consecutive years. Jana and Randy raised their four children on the farm.
Jana’s love for children was evident as she was a Sunday school teacher, involved in her children’s school and a 4-H leader for 20 years. She was very involved in coaching young people in showing, fitting and judging dairy and beef cattle.
Jana was a fabulous but adventuresome cook and was known for her creativity.
Jana was preceded in death by daughter Mandy Renee and her grandparents.
She will be greatly missed by her husband of 35 years, Randy; children Matt (Mandi), Melissa, Mark (Lindsey) and Mike (fiancé Tess); brother John (Rita) Brandt; sister Janell (Dennis) Lyddan; parents Robert and Myrna Brandt; two grandchildren, Easton and Kolston Kortus; and many friends in the dairy and beef cattle industry.
The family wishes to thank special family friend Mandy Schuett for her love, care and support throughout Jana’s illness.
A celebration of life open house honoring Jana will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 in the Expo Building on the Lynden fairgrounds. A private family graveside committal will precede at Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden.
Memorials are suggested to the Lynden Christian FFA program, c/o Lynden Christian Schools, 417 Lyncs Drive, Lynden, WA 98264. You are invited to share your memories of Jana in the online guestbook at www.Gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
