Richard Wayne Jansen

Dick Jansen passed away peacefully in his sleep at 2:47 p.m. on November 29, 2021, following two years of battling many health complications. He fought back several times after being severely ill and he was known as the miracle man. He was a fighter and did not give up easily. Helen, his wife of 65 years, was by his side throughout his life and she was a pillar of strength through the last few months of his life. Dick was able to watch the Cougars beat the Huskies and take back the Apple Cup after nine years. His family believes he was singing the Cougar fight song on his way to heaven. Dick was a man who would strike up a conversation with strangers and soon become lifelong friends. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and the Cougar nation of fans. GO COUGS!

Dick grew up in Walla Walla, Washington and graduated from Walla Walla High School. Dick was working for his uncle on their wheat farm during the summer when he met Helen on a blind date. Dick and Helen married in 1956 in Helen's hometown of Lind, Washington. Dick graduated from Washington State University in 1959 and received his M.B.A. from W.S.U. in 1972. His three children Mike, Julie and Jennifer and grandson, Justin, and granddaughter, Kirsten, also attended W.S.U. Dick served in the ROTC during college which led him to serve in the United States Army after graduation. Following six weeks of training in Fort Benning, Georgia, he was then stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington.

In 1960, Dick and Helen moved to Bellevue, Washington where Dick entered the Sears and Roebuck management training program and then worked for NCR (National Cash Register) in sales. A few years later, they moved to Walla Walla where Dick and his brother Jim started a lath and plaster business.

Dick decided to get his M.B.A. when they moved back to Pullman in 1970.

Dick was an avid Cougar fan for more than 65 years. Dick and Helen's home in Pullman was a gathering place for Coug coaches and friends before and after football games. They often opened their home to host football players for dinner who could not go home for Thanksgiving. They were also Coug basketball and baseball fans.

While in Pullman, Dick enjoyed fishing the Snake River for salmon, golfing and attending his children's many activities at Pullman High School. Dick also participated in supporting many local service organizations.

As a child when living in Walla Walla, Dick's family home caught fire. The city fire department was not allowed to respond to the fire due to the home being just outside the city limits causing it to burn to the ground. Dick also watched the W.S.U. stadium fire from his home in Pullman. These events sparked his interest in serving as a volunteer rural fire fighter, fighting fires outside the Pullman city limits.

Dick worked for Prudential Insurance in Pullman and also taught an insurance class at W.S.U. He was loved by his students for his life lessons, practical instructions and weekly quizzes with only one question asking what the score was of a previous Apple Cup that the Cougars had won. The answer was displayed on the chalkboard. He was honored by W.S.U. as the Professor of the Year in 1984.

In 1984, Dick and Helen moved to Ocean Shores where Dick was hired as the Ambulance and Fire Chief. They built a home and lived there for seven years. They enjoyed many drives to the jetty to watch storms and sunsets.

Next, they moved to Olympia where Dick worked for the State of Washington in various roles. His last position before retiring in 2000 was as a Claims Manager for the Department of Labor and Industries. Upon retirement, Dick and Helen moved to Jubilee in Lacey and spent their winters as snowbirds in the Palm Springs area. This is where Dick's passion for W.S.U. and the Cougars was devoted to serving as a board member of the Cougars of the Desert. Many recall Dick "hitting them up" for donations to support the scholarship fund.

Dick is survived by his wife Helen, brother Jim, son Mike, daughters Julie Jansen Willis and Jennifer Jansen Fischer, 17 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Dick is preceded in death by his sister Phyllis McKee. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Contributions in Dick's honor can be made to the Cougars of the Desert Scholarship Fund c/o Washington State University Alumni Association, P.O. Box 646150, Pullman, WA 99164-6150.