Janice Lee Manson

1938-2024

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and best friend Janice (Jan) Lee Wulf Manson, 85, passed away from a stroke on May 21, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington.

Jan was born on June 4, 1938 in Everett to Emil and Irple Wulf. She was the youngest of two daughters, both with the same birthday but eight years apart. Jan was her big sister Bertie’s birthday present! In second grade Jan won a penmanship award for her excellent handwriting skills. Her handwriting was a thing of beauty throughout her life. She graduated from Everett High School in 1955.

She married John Dennis in 1960, and they moved to Tacoma. She had two children, Patrick and Leanne. The couple divorced in 1967.

Jan worked three jobs at one time as the sole support of her little family so that her children would not lack any necessities. She owned her own home, and her children enjoyed football, basketball, ballet, cheerleading, and summer camps.

Some of the work she did was odd jobs, such as housekeeping for private families, but primarily she worked as a secretary. She worked at Wilson and George Meyer, a chemical distribution company, until her early retirement.

After a long period of time as a single parent, Jan met the love of her life, James (Jim) Manson. They married on February 16, 1991. Jan and Jim spent time in the evenings sitting outside their open garage door chatting with neighbors and waving to passersby. They enjoyed getting and giving a little “lovin” from all doggies walking down the street. The neighbors, as well as the dogs, adored Jan. In addition, Jan and Jim loved to camp in their travel trailer, go on trips, and explore the world on cruises. Jim was a great bonfire maker, and Jan loved a good hotdog roasted over a fire. Jim died in 2016.

Jan’s first and only grandchild Dana was born in 1986. Jan and Jim took him camping, fishing, and out to the beach. A special bond was built. She loved doing anything involving her grandson. She attended his sporting events – soccer, baseball and basketball. They went to garage sales together. During Jan’s final years, Dana spent time with his grandmother helping her plant in flower pots or whispering which cards to play in Go Fish, a (brain stimulation) game they played to slow the effects of her (increased) dementia. Jan just loved being a grandma.

Jan enjoyed decorating for holidays, especially Christmas. She had a tree in every room and even had a tree in the bathtub. She loved to “fiddlefart,” moving things around, making things just so. And she loved listening to the oldies.

Jan had many longtime friends, but she suffered a great deal of loss in her lifetime. She lost her parents, uncles, aunts, sister, and she served as the executor of many of their estates. It is a blessing that she is now reunited with Jim as she missed him so.

She is survived by son Patrick Dennis and wife Jenilyn, daughter Leanne Headley and husband Michael, and her grandson, Dana. She is preceded in death by her husband James Manson.

A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, June 5, at 1:00PM; Evergreen Memorial Park 11111 Aurora Ave N. Seattle, followed by a reception in the Evergreen Washelli Reception Center.