Jan Amis Jessup

Jan was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Herman Harvey and Anita (Lincoln) Sinako. At a young age, Jan moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School, where she had so many friends and even more escapades with her best friend, "Looey."

After high school Jan attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in journalism at the U of M School of Journalism. It was there that she met her future husband, Donald Hall Grawert. Together they became the parents of three children, Cary, Lindsay and Bruce, and lived a happy suburban life in Minneapolis. During those years, Jan was a founding member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minnesota.

In 1965, Jan moved her family to Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, and lived there until 1970. It was in Mountain Lakes that Jan made many dear friends who would be in her life until the end. It was also during this time that Jan pursued a postgraduate program in Psychiatric Social Work at Rutgers University and worked at Greystone State Hospital, where her many contributions resulted in improvements beneficial to the patients.

In 1970, Jan married Everett Orme Amis (Buddy) and moved back to Minneapolis. In 1973, she and Buddy made the decision to forgo the frigid Minnesota winters and moved to Lighthouse Point, Florida. These years were very happy ones and were the start of Jan's involvement in so many different organizations. Buddy sadly passed away in 1981.

Jan held many officer and board positions in such Florida and national arts and community organizations as the Broward Center Performing Arts Pacers (Board of Directors), the Lighthouse Point Beautification Committee (Secretary), the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra (Board of Governors), Florida Grand Opera, the Symphony of the Americas Society (founding President of the Symphony of Americas Society, Board of Directors), the Master Choral of South Florida, the Miami City Ballet (Trustee), the Harid Conservatory (founding President), Guild of the Palm Beaches, Youth Automotive Training Corps (Board of Advisors and volunteer tutor), Forum Women's Health, Symphony of the Americas, Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, Priory of the Americans, Gold Coast Jazz Society (Board of Directors) Royal Palm Dinner Theater (Board of Directors), the Opus Society (Chairman, Board of Directors), Fort Lauderdale Philharmonic (Board of Directors), Opera Society (Secretary, Board of Directors), League of American Orchestras Volunteer Council (secretary, Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, Vice Chairman, President), National Society of Arts and Letters, Royal Dames Cancer Research, International Game Fish Association, League of American Orchestras (Board of Directors), National Youth Orchestra Festival, Toastmaster's International, University Club Washington, Sea Grape Garden Club (President), and Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club (Yachting Committee, Entertainment Committee, Finance Committee).

It was during these Florida years that Jan fortuitously met Joe Lee Jessup on an airplane. Joe was a retired Colonel, professor and dean at the George Washington University, and a Westinghouse consultant and Jan was returning from one of her many American Symphony Orchestra League meetings. Jan and Joe lived a very happy and active life in Boca Raton and Washington, leaving frequently on world adventures to Antarctica, Russia, Korea, Japan, China, Scandinavia and too many other countries to name. Joe sadly passed away in January, 2006.

Jan was an avid sports fisherwoman who loved her boat and trips cruising the Intracoastal Waterway and to the Bahamas. She thanks Darrin Loesel for being an awesome boat captain.

Jan was the proud record-holder of a World Record Horse-Eye Jack (35-1/2" and 20 pounds) caught off Pompano Beach, Florida, on November 13, 1984. Her record still stands in the Fishing Hall of Fame.

One of Jan's proudest accomplishments was becoming a book author. Her book, "Will I Be on Television?" is the story of her daughter Lindsay's journey as a special needs child and adult. Jan was so happy to be able to offer hope and advice to other families of special needs children and adults.

Jan also had many avocations: music, boating, fishing, writing, bible study, traveling and bridge. The people that Jan met through these endeavors are among Jan's most cherished friends.

Jan also leaves behind her loving and dedicated home support staff (more like family), Michele Holtfreter and Colleen Michel.

Jan also leaves behind her devoted and loving family: daughter Caryl (Cary) Gorsline, daughter Lindsay (Lins) Grawert, son Bruce Grawert and his wife Melissa (Missie), her grandson Ames Grawert ( wife Sandy) and granddaugher Allyne (Allie) Grawert and Allie's fiance Zach Ettner.

Internment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.