John T. Jans

John T. Jans

John was born August 24, 1924 in Detroit, MI to John T. Jans I & Lucile McKenna Jans.

In school he was grateful to his primarily Jewish classmates, who motivated him to get good grades through friendly competition, resulted in lifelong friendships. John learned and read like he would live forever.

In February 1945 he graduated from Marquette’s V12 program as an Ensign in the US Navy.

John was stationed in Pearl Harbor on LC 1401 – at the end of the war it was his duty to transport reporters watching the air-drop atomic tests at Bikini Atoll. His boat was later used at ground zero for the underwater tests. It was at a USO dance in Milwaukee that he met Patricia (Tish) McQuaid. They wrote letters for the rest of his service, and married in September of 1947.

At home he attended the University of Michigan and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering. He and Tish moved to Long Island, New York to start work at Sylvania as a Jr. Applications Engineer on the first color TVs.  When Sylvania opened a plant in Seneca Falls, they volunteered to head upstate, and became heavily involved in the community.

Apart from his work and raising 4 children (later a 5th), John would devote his time to teaching TV repair to radio repairmen, repairing TVs and installing TV antennas for Seneca Falls residents, (often for the price of a cherry pie). He joined the Seneca Falls County Club and Red Jacket Yacht Club, served on the session of the Presbyterian Church, was active in the Barnstormers, and Rotary.

Sylvania sent him to California for management experience at the Fullerton Plant, and while he expected to return to Seneca Falls, he liked not having to shovel snow in California, and his career led him to stay for good.

He was transferred again to Los Altos to work in Microwave communication, and over the next 60 years he worked on a sprinkler controller for RainBird sprinklers, TV monitors for Conrac, and ran his own businesses from his home in Northern California.

John always found the time to be of service to his community. He regularly donated blood, worked with Rotary to eradicate Polio, supported organ donor organizations by presenting at schools, was on the session at Trinity Presbyterian Church and was active at the Boys & Girls Club in Paradise, and worked as a substitute teacher and tutor well into his 90s.

One of his favorite accomplishments was ascending to the throne as Paradise’s Chocolate King. He always said “Kings are for life”, so he maintained his Royal status to the end.

Predeceased by his parents John & Lucile, his wife Tish, and his brother Jim. He is survived by his children – Kathy (John Duffy), John (Dede Watson), Jim (Sharon), Bruce, and Jenny (Michael Johnson) grandchildren Garrett (Alesha), Amarett Jans, Bruce Johnson (Juli-Anna), Kelly Johnson (Lloyd Wangberg) and great-grandchildren Kira-Lana Johnson and Jane Wangberg.

John reveled in being the longest-lived Jans, as he could tell family stories and no one could dispute the facts.

John could be competitive, but he would also encourage your efforts. He coached numerous sports over the years for his children and grandchildren. He was a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan and a great Michigan supporter, but he enjoyed watching and listening to all sports.

He touched many people over a long life and he will be missed, but as he always said, “Remember the Good Stuff”. There is a lot of “Good Stuff” to remember.

Donations may be made in John's memory to the Heifer Project or your charity of choice.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Rose Chapel Mortuary in Paradise, Californa.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John T. Jans, please visit our floral store.