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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Wesche, Janet Lee (Martinson)

Age 75

WESCHE, Janet Lee (Martinson) May 13, 1938 - March 31, 2014 Our beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and grandma “Jan” Wesche passed away at the age of 75 on March 31, 2014 at her home in Liberty Lake, surrounded by her family.

Jan was known for her fun-loving spirit, encouragement to others, her hospitality, and her very positive attitude.

She lived every day with a zest for life that was rare and believed that strangers were only friends she hadn’t met yet.

Jan’s motto was, “Why not?”

Jan was the second in a family of four girls raised in Bellingham, Washington.

She loved to sing as they walked to the Baptist church on Sunday, and rode bikes with her sisters in the summer six miles to Lake Whatcom.

Jan graduated from Bellingham High School, attended Western Washington College one year, and then graduated from Seattle Pacific College in 1959.

She met her husband David at SPC and they married only two weeks after her graduation.

Jan supported her family by teaching elementary school while Dave was a medical student.

She had two children before her husband joined the US Air Force, and one son during the military years.

She also did some substitute teaching when the family moved and they lived in Texas, California, and Alaska during that time.

Jan moved the family to Lynnwood, Washington a block away from her sister, during the year Dave was stationed in Vietnam.

While in Alaska, Jan was a troop leader for her daughter’s Junior Girl Scout troop for two years.

After the military, the family lived in Portland, Oregon and while there, Jan taught reading to students with dyslexia.

She was also a museum docent at the Oregon History Museum and gave downtown tours of the city.

After Dave’s residency in Oregon, the family moved to Liberty Lake and Dave began his practice in the Spokane valley.

Jan made friends quickly and made Liberty Lake her home.

Jan soon learned to waterski and over the years she participated in other water activities: kayaking, canoeing, and windsurfing.

Jan participated in a kayak excursion in Canada with a group of women she met for the first time on this trip, and they became lasting friends.

While living at Liberty Lake, Jan participated in many activities with her friends: a bridge group, a book club, a biking group, and a member of the “B” team (the “Best” Team) waterski group.

The “B” team was a group of friends who waterskied every morning during the summer, and she did this until the age of 71.

Jan was an annual participant in Spokane’s Bloomsday run from 1978 until 1998 only stopping at the age of 60 when an ankle she’d broken years before became too painful.

At that point, she became an avid biker.

She was also an enthusiastic snow skier, and was a member of the Schweitzer Mountain Chapel committee.

Jan was a realtor for a few years in the Spokane Valley area.

She was part-owner of Brighton Court, an assisted living facility in the valley where her mother was able to reside for eight years, and Jan loved being able to visit her mom on an almost daily basis.

She was a member and officer of PEO Chapter IT and recently became a member of the Daughters of Norway.

She served as president and board member of the Alpine Shores neighborhood association and served as Director of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Jan loved to travel and visited many families overseas.

These were the families of exchange students she and Dave had hosted over the years, and also families she met through her daughter’s year as an exchange student.

This included trips to Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Holland, Austria, and even a side trip to St. Petersburg, Russia.

After Dave retired, he was able to accompany Jan on many of her adventures: swimming with the dolphins in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; an African safari in Kenya; and a trip to China to visit Dave’s birthplace where he was born to missionary minister parents.

Jan was a community volunteer of the American Cancer Society, visiting and encouraging women through Reach to Recovery.

She served as a school board member with two terms as president of the Central Valley School District from 1983-1991.

Jan was also a member of the Washington State Medical Association Auxiliary from 1983-1994 and served as a Spokane County president and Washington State president during those years.

Jan lived her Christian faith and was a wonderful example of Christ’s love.

Her favorite verse was Joshua 1:9 which says, “Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Jan’s presence will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

She was a “force of life,” a generous spirit, and a friend to all.

Jan is survived by her husband of 55 years, Dr. David H. Wesche of Liberty Lake, Wa; daughter Dr. Shannon L Wesche of Tucson, AZ; son Dr. Daniel E. Wesche (Maureen) of Flagstaff, AZ, and son Marcus A. Wesche (Shea Wills) of Liberty Lake, WA.

Jan leaves a legacy of 12 grandchildren: Samantha, Anna Marie, Bailey, Nicholas, Thomas, Maggie, Grace, Jaelyn, Nora, Kate, Olivia, and Charlie.

Jan is also survived by her three sisters, Charlotte Gay (Merlin) of Everett, WA, Lloydine Nordtvedt (Thomas) of Ketchikan, AK, and Carolyn Bren (Mike) of Grandview, WA.

She is also survived by her dear sister-in-law Colleen Wesche Lewis of Portland, OR, brothers-in-law, Paul Wesche (Berniece) of Albany, OR, Lilburn Wesche (Esther) of Boise, ID, Robert Wesche (Dora) of Youngtown, AZ and numerous nieces and nephews.

At Jan’s request, there will not be a service at this time.

At the family’s request, donations can be made in Jan’s name to Hospice of Spokane or Cancer Care Northwest Foundation.

A guest book can be signed at HazenJaegerValley.com