While her spiritual journey continues, her mortal journey ended on August 26, 2020 at the age of 85. Jan was born in 1935 to Winfield and Eva Holmes in Wausau, Wisconsin where she spent her childhood. She graduated from Luther Hospital School of Nursing in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where she met her husband of 63 years, Chuck Christianson. In 1957 they were married and moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where they lived for all but 5 years when work took the family to Cheshire, Connecticut.

Jan worked as a nurse for over 45 years. Her career was varied. She worked as a hospital nurse, a camp nurse, a school nurse, an industrial health nurse, and a staff nurse at the Family Health Center until 1978 when she took a job as Nursing Supervisor for the Kalamazoo Visiting Nurse Association. Jan worked as an office nurse for James Van Hare, MD, Bruce Forman, MD, Drs. Kostin and Behrje and at Kalamazoo Gastroenterology. She also worked as a clinical instructor for the Nursing Assistants Program at Davenport College, and after retirement she started the Parish Nursing Program at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage.

While raising three children and working full-time, Jan also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University in 1976.

Jan served on many committees at church. She was a Stephen Minister. She worked as a volunteer for the First Presbyterian Health Clinic and the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. Jan received the Distinguished Volunteer Award from Lutheran Social Services of Michigan for 10 years of service at the Hillside Lutheran Manor and for giving her time and talent as a Parish Nurse at Prince of Peace.
Jan loved to sing. She sang in her church choir from the time she was in grade school. She also sang in the Bach Festival Choir and the Community Chorale in Kalamazoo. Her creative talents also extended to needle work, Norwegian Rosemaling and entertaining family and friends.

As a nurse, a volunteer, a church member, a neighbor and a friend, Jan touched so many people’s lives. She was a loving wife to Chuck and a phenomenal mother to Laura Bennett and her husband Rick, Carol Christianson, and Karl Christianson and his wife Gina. Jan also treasured her grandchildren; Michael Bennett, his wife Samantha, and their son Luke; Krista Wooden and her husband Jarrod; Blake and Alex Christianson; and Meredith Christianson who is to be married to Benjamin Kawecki on September 6, 2020. She is survived by her brother Phillip Holmes and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Winfield and Eva Holmes; her brothers Winfield, Russell, and John Holmes; and her niece Christine Holmes. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan for the outstanding care and support extended to Jan and her family in the last few months of her life.