Jana Leigh Borba

Jana Leigh Borba

November 19, 1960 – October 8, 2025

Jana Leigh Borba, 64, passed away on October 8, 2025 in Bakersfield from complications of Addison's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. Jana was born on November 19, 1960 in Visalia, CA to Wilma Dale Jobe Beutler and Harold Elmer Beutler Jr. She was the youngest of their five children.

Jana grew up with a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. She enjoyed camping, hiking, and "flower hunting" with her Grandma Esther. This love of plant life led her to study and learn all she could about wildflowers and plants. Jana was a talented renaissance girl who could draw, sew, knit, play the banjo, cook, garden, can food, and a wide variety of other abilities.

Jana was raised in Visalia and attended Mt. View Elementary School and Divisadero Jr. High. She graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 1979. Jana went on to study at the College of Sequoias (COS) where her emphasis was on botany and plant science. She also studied at Humboldt State University and then completed her education by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biology – Botany from California State University, Fresno in 1984. While attending COS, she met the love of her life, her husband John. They married in 1983 and spent 42 joyous years together until her passing.

Jana's first job after college was with the Siemer and Associates in Fresno performing agricultural research and testing. Her husband took a job working for the US Government and they travelled to Europe on a three-year contract. They had many happy adventures there living first in West Berlin and then Geldersheim. While in Berlin, Jana worked for the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department of the US military in the craft shop. There she put her many artistic talents to use teaching leather crafting, stain glass window making, picture framing, and a host of other activities for service personnel and their dependents. One of the highlights of her time in Berlin is when her parents and in-laws came for a three week visit and she took them on a tour of Germany. Her other highlight was the birth of her son Ethan.

Upon their return to the United States, Jana again took an agricultural testing position with Mid State Labs in Visalia. Upon the birth of her daughter Emma, Jana chose to stay at home and be a full-time mother to her children. She was loving and supportive of them in every way. She helped out in their schools, coached soccer, served as a Cub Scout leader, and assisted with church activities. She also became a devoted 4-H volunteer where she led project groups in poultry and camping. Jana led an award-winning livestock judging team and chaperoned at numerous 4-H camps and conferences.

After her children had grown, Jana returned to work in a job that was perfect for her. She became an outdoor naturalist at the Wind Wolves Preserve in southern Kern County. Jana used her talents teaching outdoor skills and nature to the public. She especially enjoyed teaching groups of students from visiting schools. She was affectionately known to visitors and staff alike as "Jana Banana". After 12 years of working in a position she loved, she was forced to retire due to declining health.

Jana was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Wilma Beutler, and her sister Valerie Garcia. She is survived by her husband John Borba, her son Ethan Borba, her daughter Emma Borba, and her grandson Anthony Borba. She is also survived by her brothers Jeff Beutler (Donna), Kurt Beutler (Ruth), sister Susan Hedrick (Eddie), brother-in-law Abel Garcia and many nieces and nephews.

Jana's celebration of life will be held at Greenlawn Southwest in Bakersfield on Thursday, October 16th. The service will be held in the Main Chapel at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception in the adjacent Tribute Center. A brief graveside committal will be held at the Bakersfield National Cemetery on Monday, October 20th at 9:15 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Wildlands Conservancy in memory of Jana Borba, whose many years as a naturalist at Wind Wolves Preserve inspired countless children to discover the beauty and wonder of nature.

Donations can be made online at wildlandsconservancy.org/donatenow, with the checkbox option to dedicate your gift to Jana. You can also choose to have your donation go to Outdoor Education at Wind Wolves Preserve if you want to support the specific work that Jana dedicated her time to for more than twelve years.

You may also donate by mail to:

The Wildlands Conservancy

Attn: Memorial Gifts – Jana Borba

39611 Oak Glen Rd., Bldg. 12

Oak Glen, California 92399