Janet Boegli Anderson

Janet Anderson, 74, of Olympia, Washington, died at her home on April 17, 2014, of brain cancer. Janet was born to Willis and Gladys (Audrain) Boegli on January 26, 1940 in Corvallis, Oregon. She grew up in Amarillo, Texas. She earned a BA in Education from The University of Texas at Austin, and she received a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from Michigan State University. Janet dedicated her life to public service. She was one of the first to join the Peace Corps and was among the initial group of volunteers to go to Chile, in 1961. When she returned to the States, she continued to practice volunteer training, working for the Office of Economic Opportunity VISTA, in Washington D.C. Janet married Jeremy Anderson on November 28, 1968. The newlyweds first lived in Worcester, Massachusetts and later settled in Cheney, Washington, where they raised their family. After a joyful marriage of 19 years, Janet became widowed in October 1987, following the unexpected death of Jeremy. While living in Eastern Washington, Janet worked as a reporter for the Cheney Free Press and also taught ESL and GED to inmates at the Pine Lodge Correctional Center. Continuing with her dedication to adult education and training, Janet moved to Olympia 1989. Working for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, she oversaw statewide programs for ESL, Even Start, family literacy, and volunteer tutoring. Although she retired in 2000, her lifelong passion for volunteer work continued until her death. She gave time to Stephen Ministry at the United Churches of Olympia, the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, Harlequin Productions, Capitol Land Trust, and tutoring for adult literacy groups. She also hosted students for the International Trauma Treatment Program. Janet will be remembered for her graciousness and generosity. Her friends have described her as having the ability to make everyone she met feel special. She enjoyed sharing time with friends, being part of local book group, as well as making yearly visits to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Janet’s love of travel resulted in her visiting five continents. Janet is survived by her three sons, Jeff and his wife Mary Manna Anderson of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Eric and his wife Cynthia Levine of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Benjamin of Sunland, California; and two grandchildren, Moriah and Jeremy. Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Jeremy, and her brother, Glen Boegli. The family suggests that donations maybe made in Janet’s honor to any one of three charities: The Jeremy Anderson Scholarship Fund, with checks made out to the EWU Foundation, Gift Processing, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney WA 99004, Providence Sound Home Care and Hospice, 3432 South Bay Rd. NE, Olympia WA 98506, or The National Brain Tumor Society, www.braintumor.org. The family wishes to thank Janet’s friends, Pat Dickason, Peggy Smith, and Francis Tanaka; caregiver, Kristine Fredrickson, Providence Sound Home Care and Hospice; and The United Churches of Olympia. Please leave memories of Janet or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.