Risa Jan (Angell) Westmoreland passed away peacefully at home on August 25, 2024, at age 68.
Jan was born on May 12, 1956 in Hardtner, Kansas to Evelyn "Eva" Mae and William Kenneth "Ken" Angell. She was a precocious young lady with a penchant for good-natured mischief, which she never outgrew. In 1963 the family moved to the Kansas City area. Jan graduated from Grandview High School in 1974 and attended Avila College. In 1978 she married her former husband Thaddeus E. Nugent, Jr. They spent seventeen years together and had two children, Shannon René and Thaddeus Edward III.
In 1996, Jan married Robert "Bob" Westmoreland and became a bonus mom to Ryan, Erika and Chad Westmoreland, and Keith VanVleet. During their 28 years together, Jan and Bob built a wonderful life filled with family, good friends, travel and adventure. She so enjoyed her time with her grandchildren and laying on the beach. She thrived as an executive admin for Sprint/T-Mobile until her retirement in 2021.
Jan was gifted with creativity and an artistic eye. She had a talent for finding and making beauty in all things, down to the smallest detail. She lit up a room and could find the fun in even the most mundane of situations. She loved music, classic movies and the Kansas City Chiefs. She was the self-elected family photographer, always capturing that perfect photo if at the expense of her children and sons-in-law. Jan loved the Lord and was selfless and generous, she found joy and purpose in caring for others. She was the best Gigi, who loved to celebrate and spoil her eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Jan is predeceased by her father William Kenneth Angell, sister Rita Jill VanderMolen, and her mother, Eva Mae Angell, who passed away on August 25th just hours earlier.
Jan is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Shannon (Brian) Smith, son Thaddeus (Tessa) Nugent, bonus children Keith VanVleet, Ryan Westmoreland, Chad (Tess) Westmoreland, Erika (Todd) Pearce, grandchildren Olivia and Noah Smith, Thaddeus IV and Tulliah Nugent, Trent, Jordan, Jayden and Logan Westmoreland, Jude Black, Lexi and Hadley Pearce, great-grandson Oliver, siblings Don (Debbie) Angell and René (Ed) Kroll, as well as beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and lifelong friends.
A 2:00pm Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024; with a visitation starting at 1:00pm, both at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 350 SW 150 Highway Lee's Summit, MO 64082.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to fund ALS research through the KU Endowment Fund. Please designate your gift to Keith Worthington ALS Research (02626) in memory of Jan Westmoreland. Donate at or mail to 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS 3012, Kansas City, KS 66160.

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Eric Entsminger

September 2, 2024

The first time I saw Jan I was very much attracted to her; mostly by her personality. She lived just down the street from me, but I never got to really know her until we were in high school together in Biology class.

Here's what really made me feel dumbfounded, >5 decades ago: because I didn't REALLY know her until we were in high school, I didn't recognize her; because she just got new shag haircut before we met in Biology class, and she also got new wire-rimmed glasses. But when I saw her picture in the previous yearbook, with her shoulder-length hair and her plastic-rimmed glasses, and I saw her name next to her picture, THAT'S when I put 2 and 2 together and realized that pretty girl I previously admired and the girl I met in Biology class were the same person.