Emily Lou Jansma

Emily graduated from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met her husband-to-be, Thornton Jansma. Emily and Thornton were married on June 19, 1948. Following graduation, the newlyweds settled in Oregon where Thornton was Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Salem, Oregon. In 1954 Thornton accepted the position as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Forest Grove, Oregon. Thornton and Emily’s three children were born in Oregon. Thornton and Emily moved to Spokane, Washington, in 1965, when Thornton became Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. Emily served alongside Thornton in ministry, including leading the Sunday School Primary Department, serving as church librarian, working in the church office, and singing in the choir. Additionally, Emily worked part-time as an administrative assistant in the private sector. In 1976 Thornton became President of Inland Empire School of the Bible (now Moody Northwest). Thornton and Emily mentored future pastors and missionaries throughout their years in ministry. Thornton went home to be with the Lord in 1994. Emily attended Trinity Baptist Church for over 40 years and always considered Trinity her church home.

In 2006 Emily moved nearer her children, first to Seattle, Washington, and then in 2008 to Willow Brook Christian Home in Columbus, Ohio, due to failing health. Emily remained a faithful prayer warrior throughout her life.

Emily was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Harold Tibbits, Sr., and Ruth [Boyd] Tibbits; her siblings, Arthur H. Tibbits, Jr., Charles B. Tibbits, Barbara J. Jansma, and John A. Tibbits; son, Mark Thornton Jansma; husband, Thornton Andrew Jansma; granddaughter Lauren Elizabeth Jansma; and son-in-law Timothy McAdams Clark. Emily is survived by her daughter, Mary [Jansma] Clark, of Dublin, Ohio; her son, Jim Jansma, and his wife, Madelyn, of Sammamish, Washington; five grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

A service will be held in Spokane, Washington at Greenwood Memorial Terrace Cemetery on July 24, 2015 at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in remembrance of Emily’s life may be made to Moody Northwest, c/o Moody Bible Institute, Stewardship-Crystal Davis, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610.