Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Krebs, Helen  "Jan" Janis (Decker) March 21, 2022
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net March 23, 2023, 2:46 pm

Ionia Shopper's Guide -  Sat. March 26, 2022

KREBS

Helen Janis "Jan" Krebs, age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, 
March 21, 2022.

Jan was born to her Mother Helen Josephine Selby and her Father Dee Decker on 
the family farm in Ovid, Michigan, on July 1,1931. After her family lost their 
farm during the great Depression, they moved to Ionia in 1934, where her father 
worked as a guard at Ionia Reformatory and her mother was a beloved School 
Teacher and Principal.

Due to her mother's teaching jobs, Jan moved several ties between Laingsburg and 
Ionia in her childhood before settling in Saranac, Michigan, where she attended 
sixth grade through highs school. Motivated by her mother's love of learning, 
Jan attended college at Lansing business University.

After college, Jan worked at the Ionia State Hospital from 1951 to 1953, before 
moving with her girlfriends to find jobs and adventure in Los Angeles. During a 
trip back home for Christmas a year later, she met the love of her life, Irv 
Kreb aMd decided to stay in Michigan. They married a year later in 1954 and had 
three beautiful daughters,; Terri (born in 1956) Mary Jo (born in 1958)) and 
Cheryl (born in 1960). Sadly, Irv passed away in 1974.

Throughout her career, Jan worked as a secretary/administrative professional in 
a varity of organizations and businesses, including Oldsmobile and Jefferson 
Elementary School, where she was beloved by students and staff alike. She 
finished out her career as a secretary for the Michigan State University 
Radiology Department where she worked up until her retirement in 1998. Her time 
at MSU's Department of Radiology inspired her grandson Tom to pursue a career in 
radiology.

After retirement, Jan spent 15 years serving her community at the Ionia County 
Commission on Aging, where she provided care  giving services  to Senior 
Citizens. She built lasting relationships with those she met there, and the 
position was a natural fit for her giving spirit.

Jan was a devoted loving mother and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. 
She loved looking at any baby that crossed her path and was an avid lover of 
animals, particularly horses and dogs. Several dogs were lucky enough to call 
Jan's home their own, including her beloved Tigger and Freddie.

Jan always had a kind word to share, and found pleasure making any one she 
passed, family or stranger alike, smile and feel special. Jan's kindness and 
generosity shone through everywhere she traveled, and as such, she is remembered 
with deep love by a seeming endless community of family and friends who can 
recall her warm smile as easily as her wit, sense of humor, and sweet tooth.

She is survived by her brother, Wendall decker, of Grand Ledge, daughters Teri 
(Ray) Cruse of Kewanee, Il, Mary Jo (Rick) McKendry of Lyons, and daughter 
Cheryl Krebs of Ionia; and grandchildren, Thomas (Becky) McKendry of Lansing, 
Raymond Cruse of Kewanee, Alison (Kyle) Gould of Traverse City, and Travis Cruse 
of Dunlap, IL.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 26, at the Lake Funeral Home in 
Ionia 1-3. Online condolences may be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com

To celebrate Jan's love of reading and connection with animals, in lieu of 
flowers, memorial donations can be made in her honor to the Ionia county Animal 
Shelter of Ionia Community Library.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/k/krebs45311nob.txt

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