Janet Grace Colling

Janet Grace Colling
March 28, 1940 - August 13, 2023
Jan Colling, 83, of Cedaredge, Colorado, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Sunday, August 13, 2023.

She was born to Robert and Marge Park on March 28, 1940, in Stafford, Kansas. She grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming, graduating high school in 1958. She attended Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming. While attending UW, she met the love of her life and married Owen Howard Colling on December 28, 1963. They enjoyed 60 wonderful years married, and raised three children together in Castle Rock, Colorado. While Howard switched from Air Force life to a career in the airlines, Jan created homes for her children and grand children in Castle Rock, Colorado, Portland, Maine, Easton, Pennsylvania, and finally, Cedaredge, Colorado, where she spent the last 24 years of her life.

Jan was known for her gregarious personality and famous laugh, often called “Miss Personality” by Howard. Howard proudly shares the story of Jan receiving every vote available from her senior class for Homecoming Queen except one, which was her vote for the other candidate.

Jan was an American Airlines stewardess in the 1960’s and was featured on their advertising poster. Later in the 1990’s, she hired on again to become a flight attendant for Continental Airlines. She quickly became a favorite of the young, new hire flight attendants in her class.

Most certainly what Jan valued most was her family. Raising her three children was her focus and her joy. She watched her son Kevin become a Navy Blue Angel pilot, while her daughters Chere and Kim became professionals and mothers. Jan was perhaps the first mother to participate in the Navy fighter pilot tradition of toasting by drinking from a shoe, invited by her son’s squadron mates. Jan, in true Jan spirit, started the dance at her daughter’s wedding reception by jumping up on the table to dance after other avenues to the dance floor were blocked.  It was a risky and often bruising experience to sit next to her at her children’s and
grandchildren’s sporting events as she moved rapidly and unexpectedly while mimicking the actions taking place in front of her.  Undoubtably one of the favorite activities of her children, grand children, and friends alike, was sitting on the deck with her in Cedaredge. Her ability to listen and dispense wisdom that almost always ended with,”… and have fun!” will be irreplaceable and missed. It was infectious to be close to this woman who had experienced many of life’s great tragedies and yet could
not contain her cheerfulness and joy in life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her son, Kevin Colling; and her daughter, Kim Colling.

She is survived by her husband, Howard Colling; her daughter Chere (Adam) Wasser, her daughter-in-law, Mardy Colling; her grandchildren Carter (Alexia) Wasser; Cade (Tani) Wasser; Callie Wasser; and great-grandchildren, Malachi Park Wasser and Colling Joseph Wasser.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope West of Delta, Colorado or New Hope Evangelical Free Church of Cedaredge, Colorado. A celebration of life will be held at the Colling residence, Saturday, September 30th, from 2pm - 5pm.