KATHRYN JANSEN

1917 - 2016

Kathy Jansen passed away peacefully at home in Brawley at the age of 99 on Saturday, October 15, 2016. The last of four children, Kathryn Lois Bartlett was born on October 9, 1917 in Los Angeles to Albert H. Bartlett and Delia Mary Cahill Emmons. Soon afterwards, Mr. Bartlett moved the family to Pasadena. There Kathy grew up, attended school and came of age. Despite hard times during the Depression years, Kathy graduated from UCLA in June 1939 with a degree in education and a teaching credential K-8. After teaching school for one year, Kathy married her high school beau, Gilbert B. Jansen Jr., a U.S. Naval officer, in 1941, just as the tumultuous events of WWII bore down, but the new couple survived. Following the war, two children were born, a son, Gilbert B. Jansen III, in 1946, and a daughter, Patricia Elaine Jansen, in 1949. Kathy happily lived the next several years as a devoted mother and Navy wife. Kathy's husband retired from the U.S. Navy in 1960 and went into public school teaching. A teaching assignment was offered by Brawley Union High School. So, in 1961 the Jansens came to Brawley, where Kathy has remained ever since. When the children were grown, Kathy returned to school, earning a Masters Degree in special education from San Diego State University in 1972 and subsequently a state credential and license in speech pathology. Kathy's special qualifications interested the Holtville Unified School District and she served there as a Speech and Language Therapist until her retirement in 1988. Sadly Kathy's husband died in 1980 leaving her widowed and alone for a time, though not idle. Kathy ambitiously traveled the world, logging in thousands of miles to reach such iconic destinations as The Great Wall and Machu Picchu. One day Kathy bumped into Dutch Bischke, an old acquaintance and widower from El Centro. Kathy and Dutch got reacquainted and soon became committed companions, sharing 15 wonderful years together until Dutch's passing in 2009. Kathy spent her remaining years at home in the care of her son. Kathy is survived by her son, Gilbert Jansen III of Brawley; daughter, Patricia Jansen of Moterey and granddaughter, Laura Jansen of Brawley. She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years; parents, brother and sisters. Cremation will take place at Hems Brothers Mortuary in El Centro. Formal services will not be held.