Janet "Jan" L. Raehal

Janet Louise Raehal, 75 of Greeley, Colorado passed away Saturday, December 5, 2015 at her home. Jan was born on April 21, 1940 in Clinton, Iowa to Ruth and Eldon Hammond. Jan was raised on her family’s farm in Colchester, Illinois and very active in 4-H throughout her childhood. Jan started college at Western Illinois University and then received her diploma from The University of Dubque in elementary education. Jan obtained a Master’s Degree from The University of Northern Colorado in special education. Jan began her teaching career in California and then taught overseas for The Department of Defense Schools. She taught in France and Germany. After that, she came back home to Illinois for a short time before a friend invited her to Colorado to go skiing. Jan instantly fell in love with Colorado’s majestic mountains. She worked in Denver for the Denver US Bank for a short time before meeting her future husband. Jan met Hal Raehal through a computer dating service that matched them up. They were married on July 27, 1969 in Denver, Colorado. Jan and Hal moved to Greeley, Colorado, and a few years later they adopted their son Jason and then daughter RuthAnn. Jan taught school at East Chappelow, then spent over 20 years teaching at Scott Elementary School, and then finished her teaching career at East Memorial Elementary School. Jan was a very compassionate and dedicated teacher who made a difference in the lives of each child she taught. She had to take an early retirement due to her heart failure. On July 16, 1994 Jan received a heart transplant. The transplant was a complete success, and in July of 2015 she celebrated 21 years with that heart. Jan was very active in the church, Family of Christ Presbyterian and then Greeley Vineyard Church. Jan was also active in various teacher organizations and her sorority Delta Kappa Gamma. She volunteered for 25 years at the Union Colony Civic Center. Jan is survived by her husband of 46 years, Hal; son Jason and his wife Desire grandchildren, Ethan, Kaden and Lorri, daughter RuthAnn, siblings Gene (Mary Lou), Tom (Martha) and Sally (Mike), and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Please join us in a celebration of Jan’s life at 2:00pm, December 18, 2015 at Journey Community Church, 3451 23rd Avenue, Evans, CO. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Jan’s name to Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child) in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634.