Remembering WILLIAM WESLEY “BILL” JANS, 1946-2020
(Biographic
information about Bill Jans based info found on Internet and elsewhere. Inadvertent
inaccuracies are likely. Please contact wildcatville@gmail.com and provide corrections
and additional info.)
William Wesley “Bill” Jans (Linfield College Class of 1972) was
born June 27, 1946, in Kulm (“Kul-lum”), North Dakota, to Marion and Roland
Jans. He died in December 2020 in Camas (Clark County), Washington.
Bill’s mother, Marion, was a registered nurse. The career of
his father, Roland, included long time service with Kulm State Bank, initially
as a teller and later as a cashier and director, including board of directors
chair. He eventually bought the bank and worked there before retiring in 1984.
Bill Jans and his siblings, a brother and a sister, were educated
in Kulm schools. In 1964 Bill graduated from Kulm High School.
After high school, Bill apparently attended North Dakota
State University in Fargo, 1964-1965, and then worked for Kulm State Bank. In
the early 1970s he transferred to Linfield College in McMinnville. He graduated
from Linfield in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in business.
The 2006 Linfield printed alumni directory lists Bill as a
banker with U.S. Bank in Camas (Clark County), Wash. And, Camas is listed as
where he lived, too. He previously lived in Chehalis (Lewis County), Wash., and
Long Beach (Pacific County), Wash., apparently working for U.S. Bank in both
cities.
On Aug. 7, 1975, Bill and Diane Elaine Weiss, married in Clark County, Nevada. A graduate of Portland’s Cleveland High School, she graduated in 1971 from Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Portland, Oregon. (In 1985, the school merged with Linfield to become Linfield College-Good Samaritan School of Nursing.) Their daughters are Jennifer and Laura.
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RECOLLECTIONS of BILL JANS in E-MAILS
(With slight edits)
From: Steven Lathrop <swlwildcat@gmail.com>
Thur, Dec 17, 2020, 05:10:17 PM PST,
Heard from Gene Lilly today that Bill Jans has passed away. This is very sad news as I considered him a good friend. I know he transferred to Linfield my sophomore year and I think he graduated with the Class of '72. He was a third floor New Dorm guy and one of nicest guys you would ever want to meet as most of you know.
Bill attended most of our BWC events over the years. We will all miss him.
I do not know of any details about memorial or other services as of yet. If I get them I will pass them along.
I posted a notice on our BWC Facebook page but please pass the news along to others of our era who knew Bill -- Steve L.
….
From: Tom Layton <tlayton@toledotel.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 19, 2020 at 9:51 AM
He came west for a new start.
His dad owned the bank and his grandma owned the grain facilities in Klum North Dakota. His family basically owned everything in the town except the grocery store and tavern. I flew back to Klum on Christmas break fifty years ago to ride back to Linfield with Herr Jans. We drove in a blizzard most of the way. We put cardboard in front of the radiator to keep warm. We wore our coats inside the car. The mountain passes were closed between Oregon and California and we had to spend an extra night in Redding. What a trip!!! He was a good friend and roommate. I just talked to him last year. Rest In Peace old friend!!
…………
From: Tom Layton <tlayton@toledotel.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 18, 2020 at 8:07 PM
Subject: Bill Jans transferred from what college to Linfield?
North Dakota State
…………
On Fri, Dec 18, 2020 at 8:13 AM Bill Hayden <billhayden@live.com> wrote:
Didn’t see that coming a guy full of happiness and always gracious and giving never a harsh word or attitude at the tailgating looking always good and loved to talk restaurants in his Vancouver area a very good friend tough news for me much prayers to him always and family. Steve let me know on the celebration I can help if his family needs it !!!! -- Bill
………
From: Jim Watson <jimrwatsonjr@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 6:24 PM
He sure was a good guy. End room, third floor. Next door down. I think Broten and I drove him nuts sometimes but he was always gracious. Comfort to his loved ones.
…
From: John Ekemo <john.ekemo@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 19, 2020 at 5:23 PM
Subject: RE: Re: Bio. Jans
Jim Newell , I remember now . Yes, Herr Jans and I returned from Christmas break from Alaska and North Dakota with 190 proof Everclear, couldn’t get it in Oregon at the time without a Dr. prescription. Great photo of him and Mink! -- Ekemo
….
On Dec 18, 2020, at 4: 07 PM , micktrunnell@comcast.net wrote:
This was definitely a total shocker. Herr Jans was a character to remember from back in the days.
I first met Herr Jans at Memorial Hall , along with Jerry Groene when we returned from the Christmas break to start the 2nd semester.
He moved in next door to me January and we immediately began a friendship, including Friday nites with shots of EverClear before we went around the corner for the football games.
He was also first up for pranks and games to fellow dormers, many of whom would go on the next year and become New Dorm residents.
When I finally found out about the BWC events, I contacted Herr Jans , along with Bob Mink and we would meet up for a drink at our favorite watering hole The Blue Moon ! ! !
In fact, after leaving Linfield after my sophomore year, I can back that same year and celebrated my 21st birthday at the Moon with Herr Jans. RIP Herr Jans, gone way too soon -- mick
.…
**See photo**
From: Bob Broten <bobbroten@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 18, 2020 at 3:06 PM
Here is, in my mind, a classic photo of the Jans.
So sad to lose him so suddenly. I have great memories of him and will miss him at Homecoming.
RIP Bill Jans.
Bob
…
From: Steven Lathrop <swlwildcat@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 18, 2020 at 3:24 PM
In New Dorm I think he roomed with Jim Newell for a semester and then Tater who moved up from second floor, abandoning Gil.
SL
…
POSTS at BWC-LINFIELD Facebook about BILL JANS (With slight edits)
Wildcatville = Related to Bill Jans? The 1969 ‘Oak Leaves’ yearbook shows Larry Jans posing with Theta Chi members on the OX front porch. Related to Bill Jans?
….
Steven Lathrop = Bill was a Theta. Gotta be a misprint in the yearbook.
….
Henry Mahi =Wow. So sorry to hear of this sad news. May he rest in peace, and condolences to his family.
…….
Dennis Surles = K-Ulm, North Dakota.
No wonder he didn't answer phone calls.
He told me last summer something was up and asked me not to mention it. I didn't ask what.
DAMN
…..
Brian Petersen = Always a smile and a friendly greeting. Rest In Peace Wildcat!
….
**See photo**
Dennis Surles = Spring, 1970, Cape Kiwanda. I talked Bill into going with me into that hole behind him to crawl on the ledge and watch the ocean sweep into the cave and rock the sandstone. RIP
…..
Bob Ferguson = Dennis Surles, was there a keg involved or just a few cases of Brown Derby?
….
Joe Simpson = Rest In Peace, Bill. Blessings to the family
…
Bob Broten = He will be missed.
…
Daniel E Beeson DC = Rest in Peace
…
Barbara Hammel = Hard to believe we have lost another classmate! We always enjoyed talking to Bill at the BWC events. We will miss him.
