Janice Jan SOENS

18 MAR 1938 - 13 MAY 2016

• BIRTH: 18 MAR 1938, Mishawaka, Indiana
• DEATH: 13 MAY 2016, Mishawaka, Indiana

INDEX

[N14693] Jan K. Barcus
March 18, 1938 - May 13, 2016
MISHAWAKA - Family and friends of Jan Barcus (nee' Soens) are invited to celebrate her zest for life at Hahn Funeral Home (505 West 8th Street, Mishawaka) on Wednesday, May 18, from 3 until 5 o'clock. Jan passed away on Friday, May 13 2016, after living a splendid, hard-working life filled with love and laughter. A 3rd generation Mishawakan, Jan was the daughter of Chuck and Elsie (nee' Frayman) Soens. Born March 18, 1938, she attended St. Bavo's elementary school and is a member of the Mishawaka High School class of 1956, enjoying their still-ongoing reunion activities. She worked at Soens Electric and had a teenage hobby of repairing boat motors. Jan earned a degree from Ball State University in Home Economics circa 1961 and was a proud member of the Pi Phi sorority. As a single working mother beginning in the 1970s, she raised and put her two sons through college. She earned a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling from IUSB in the early 1980s while thriving in her outreach role with the Career Center. Jan invested much of her career as a Human Resources Manager for Miles, where she earned the friendly moniker of “Church Lady” due to her unflappable professional demeanor. Climbing Mount Yosemite was a crowning achievement for her in the 90s. Retiring early due to a rare form of blindness, Jan returned here to care for her aging parents, often walking all the way to her childhood home using a guide cane. She had also been an active volunteer with the Lions Club. She is survived by her two sons, John Barcus and Dan Barcus, along with four foster/adoptive grandchildren she loved wildly, Andrew, Mathew, Jaxson and Jakob. She is also survived by her sister, Pat Feyos (Ron), but was preceded in death by her sister, Carol Embry (Bill). Instead of flowers, please feel encouraged to make an impact by donating to: https://societyfortheblind.org/donate/. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit our website, www.hahnfuneralhomes.com. Published in South Bend Tribune from May 15 to May 16, 2016