One of my very best friends after graduation, and in football. I could outrun him everytime in practice, and usually in a game. He,however outweighted me, and could shed tacklers by just knocking them over! I played a lot of linebacker because of it. We were roommates after graduation and usually hunted ducks on a limited schedul. of classes.He was a good and loyal friend over the years, like many however, he had a problem with old John Barleycorn; and developed Diabetes and liver problems. I miss you buddy!!!
I remember Jan primarily as a member of Elementary, Jr. High, and Highschool Orchestras. Jan played Bass Fiddle which suited him to a "T" since he was always one of the taller members of our class!
But , what I have to say has nothing to do with school at all. It has to do with the kindness and support he gave to our daughter, Amy, duirng the months she was on kidney dialysis prior to her (our) transplant experience in 2005. Both Jan and Amy were in the same 3 day a week dialysis rotation at ISJ in Mankato back then. A dialysis session took H-o-u-r -s, and so the patients had lots of time to get to know onc another. Amy was one of the few in that group who would be receiving a new kidney...Jan said that he "did not qualify for a transplant". Yet, he was right there cheering Amy on and giving one very apprehensive kid all the encouragement she needed to take that one chance at a longer lease on life (she would be getting both a kidney and 1/2 a pancreas in that procedure, which was a fairly new transplant combo at the time)
When "THE CALL" came for Amy, and it was time for us to take our daughter up to the U of M transplant center, Amy asked us to stop at the Renal Dialysis Unit on our way out of town. She wanted to say goodbye to all her friends. Jan was there...just finishing up his session. I didn't know if he would remember Chuck or me...(or, if he even realized Amy was our daughter.). But, he did. We visited awhile, as Amy said her goodbyes to the other patients still hooked up to thier machines. Then, Jan gave Amy a hug...told her to come back and see "the crew" once she was out of the hospital... not to be afraid....she was going to be just fine... and, they were all rooting for her!
That was the last time I saw Jan, but I have never forgotten his kindness and sensitivity toward Amy.
Amy told me that she did stop back about a month later, and that "Mr. Willard" was still coming in 3 times every week.
Michael (Mike) Nere
One of my very best friends after graduation, and in football. I could outrun him everytime in practice, and usually in a game. He,however outweighted me, and could shed tacklers by just knocking them over! I played a lot of linebacker because of it. We were roommates after graduation and usually hunted ducks on a limited schedul. of classes.He was a good and loyal friend over the years, like many however, he had a problem with old John Barleycorn; and developed Diabetes and liver problems. I miss you buddy!!!
Kathryn MacFarlane (Klammer)
I remember Jan primarily as a member of Elementary, Jr. High, and Highschool Orchestras. Jan played Bass Fiddle which suited him to a "T" since he was always one of the taller members of our class!
But , what I have to say has nothing to do with school at all. It has to do with the kindness and support he gave to our daughter, Amy, duirng the months she was on kidney dialysis prior to her (our) transplant experience in 2005. Both Jan and Amy were in the same 3 day a week dialysis rotation at ISJ in Mankato back then. A dialysis session took H-o-u-r -s, and so the patients had lots of time to get to know onc another. Amy was one of the few in that group who would be receiving a new kidney...Jan said that he "did not qualify for a transplant". Yet, he was right there cheering Amy on and giving one very apprehensive kid all the encouragement she needed to take that one chance at a longer lease on life (she would be getting both a kidney and 1/2 a pancreas in that procedure, which was a fairly new transplant combo at the time)
When "THE CALL" came for Amy, and it was time for us to take our daughter up to the U of M transplant center, Amy asked us to stop at the Renal Dialysis Unit on our way out of town. She wanted to say goodbye to all her friends. Jan was there...just finishing up his session. I didn't know if he would remember Chuck or me...(or, if he even realized Amy was our daughter.). But, he did. We visited awhile, as Amy said her goodbyes to the other patients still hooked up to thier machines. Then, Jan gave Amy a hug...told her to come back and see "the crew" once she was out of the hospital... not to be afraid....she was going to be just fine... and, they were all rooting for her!
That was the last time I saw Jan, but I have never forgotten his kindness and sensitivity toward Amy.
Amy told me that she did stop back about a month later, and that "Mr. Willard" was still coming in 3 times every week.
Mary Kay Curtis (Joseph)
Kathryn, what a beautiful story. I remember Jan as our varsity heavy weight wrestler. I did not know him well. Thank you for sharing your story.