In response to the mailing of an invitation to our former teacher Jan Christian Colwill, the following message and obituary were received . .

Dear Mrs. Cepek,

 Thanks for the invitation to the Celina 1959 Class Reunion. I regret that we must decline as Jan passed away on May 17, 2009. I've attached an obituary and some other information you may wish to share with your classmates. Hope you have a good turnout for the reunion and all have fun sharing your experiences from the last 50 years. Herb Colwill

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                                       Dr. Janice K. Colwill, age 73 of Bloomington, passed away from pancreatic cancer on May 17, 2009 at N. C. Little Memorial Hospice in Edina, MN. Janice was born in Wadsworth, OH November 7, 1935, the first child of Garland and Kathryn Christian. Janice is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Herb, sons Jim (Deborah) Wheaton, IL, Jeff (Lori) Rochester, MN, daughter Brenda Minneapolis, MN, sister Carol Leffler Arvada, CO, brother Bill (Joyce) Christian Mount Gilead, NC, granddaughters Irene and Hannah Colwill, Amy (Kyle) Hart Wheaton, IL, Laura (Ryan) Ruchotzke Rochester, MN and Lisa (Josh) Peterson and great   granddaughter Autumn Peterson Dover, MN.

     Jan believed strongly in continuing education. She graduated from Wadsworth High School then Ohio State University with a degree in Education. She began her working career as a teacher but took several years off to raise her family. After raising a family and teaching English and Languish Arts for grades 7 through 12 and facilitating a gifted and talented program in Ohio and Bloomington, MN she received an MA degree in Counseling Psychology from St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN. Over the next several years Jan worked as a counselor at Family Renewal Center, Rule 29 Clinic, Archbishop Brady High School and Pediatric and Psychology Center. During that time, she became a Licensed Psychologist and continued her learning at the University of St. Thomas and received a Psy. D degree in Counseling Psychology at the age of 60. She continued her career as a Counselor at Allina Medical Clinic in Edina, MN until she retired in 2007.

     Jan had many interest including music, fine arts, back packing, biking, skiing, and reading. Family was very important to Jan and she was always willing to do whatever it took to mentor, nurture and support the family in a very caring and loving manner. She was the glue that kept the family together. She loved to travel, especially foreign, and after her first year of teaching she spent 2 months touring 10 counties in Europe on bicycle. Over the years Jan traveled to 5 continents, some several times. Jan was a Camp Fire leader, a member of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission and the American Psychological Association.

     Visitation at Washburn-McReveay 2300 W Old Shokopee Rd Bloomington Tuesday May 19 from 5-8 PM. Memorial services will be at Normandale Hylands UMC, 9920 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN on May 20, 2209 at 1:00 PM with visitation one hour prior. Private interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to American Cancer Society, Mormandale Hylands UMC, or charity of your choice.