Wilfred R. (Bill) Jansen
OBITUARY
Bill passed at age 81 after a 4-year battle with dementia. He was born in Seattle, WA, was a member of Willow Glen Baptist Church in San Jose, graduated from Willow Glen High School, and enjoyed choir and theater arts, building sets and singing for musical productions at San Jose City College, where he earned an AA in sociology. He served with the California National Guard for six years. Bill began his career at IBM in San Jose in 1966 and retired in 2012 as equipment maintenance manager. He could fix just about anything from clocks to complex computers and everything in between. Like one of his literary heroes, Sherlock Holmes, he thrived on solving the puzzles presented by any broken item.
He loved to help people, whether it was delivering Christmas trees in his neighborhood or helping to fix a computer or car for a friend. As a private pilot, he delivered pastors from a morning church service in San Jose to an evening speaking engagement a few hours away. He also piloted for the Oceanic Society Photographers to support their conservation efforts and was pretty much happy to fly a friend or family member anywhere at any time. He also was a sailor and spent many happy hours with family and friends on the water along the Oakland estuary and in nearby venues singing sea shanties.
He was married to Linda Horn Jansen for almost 60 years. Their daughters Elisa Jansen of La Mirada and Amy Geriak (Mark) of Los Olivos brought them beloved grandchildren Mason and Ethan Jones and Claire and Will Geriak. Bill was the eldest of four children born to Victor and Mary Isleib Jansen (both deceased). His siblings John Jansen, Vickie Gill, and Dan Jansen survive him. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was a true friend to many people in all walks of life. We miss him very much.
A tribute website has been set up by the Darling-Fischer Mortuary, so people can post thoughts and memories for others to read. Also on this website, you will see a link to a company that plants trees in Oregon at the site of a forest fire to replenish the area. Just click on “Plant a Tree” if this is something you would like to do in Bill’s memory.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Bill’s life on Saturday, June 27, at 2 p.m., Menlo Church-Saratoga, 20455 Herriman Avenue. A reception will follow on the church campus.