Janet Sharon Krebbs
June 6, 1941 - July 1, 2006
Biography
JANET "JAN" KREBBS, 65, of Clearwater, died Saturday (July 1, 2006) at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater. She was born in Detroit and came here in 1999 from South Bend, Ind. She was a member of the New World Celts, Clan Graham Society, Scottish American Society of Dunedin and a tournament director for canasta and PoGo.
Survivors include her husband of two years, Bob; two daughters, Debby Smith, Largo, and Michelle Johnson, Ruston, La.; three stepsons, Carl, Clearwater, Steven, Germany, and Andrew, St. Louis; her mother, Matilda "Tillie" Good, and two brothers, David P. Good and Robert Good, all of South Bend; a sister, Dianne McInerney, Monroeville, Pa.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Belcher Road Chapel, Clearwater.
THIS BIOGRAPHY IS IN TRIBUTE TO MY LOVING WIFE AND SOUL MATE
“JANET S. KREBBS”
Jan was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 6, 1941. She was the daughter of David and Mathilda (Tillie) Good. Shortly afterward the family moved to South Bend, Indiana. Janet had two older brothers, David and Robert. Eight years later a sister Dianne joined her.
It seems Jan always loved playing with dolls, something she inherited from her mother Tillie. One fateful day when she was 10 years old, Jan and her friend Sue had walked to the store about 2 blocks from home. On their way back it was storming and as Jan was waiting to cross the street a bolt of lightning scared her, she bolted, ran across the street and was struck by 3 cars. A policeman covered her face with his hat to keep the rain off her exposed brain that was lying on her face. Her brother Bob was delivering papers, saw Jan and sent a friend to get their mother. Jan's doctors at the hospital held little hope as she lay in a comma.
THIS BIOGRAPHY IS IN TRIBUTE TO MY LOVING WIFE AND SOUL MATE
“JANET S. KREBBS”
Jan was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 6, 1941. She was the daughter of David and Mathilda (Tillie) Good. Shortly afterward the family moved to South Bend, Indiana. Janet had two older brothers, David and Robert. Eight years later a sister Dianne joined her.
It seems Jan always loved playing with dolls, something she inherited from her mother Tillie. One fateful day when she was 10 years old, Jan and her friend Sue had walked to the store about 2 blocks from home. On their way back it was storming and as Jan was waiting to cross the street a bolt of lightning scared her, she bolted, ran across the street and was struck by 3 cars. A policeman covered her face with his hat to keep the rain off her exposed brain that was lying on her face. Her brother Bob was delivering papers, saw Jan and sent a friend to get their mother. Jan's doctors at the hospital held little hope as she lay in a comma.
The following is Jan's own account of what happened next. She remembers walking along a path with a man in white robes. She could not see His face but held her hand as they walked. They were in a beautiful garden with flowers and trees and birds. Alongside of the path was a lovely stream. At the end of the path He let her hand go and told her she could go home now. She crossed the stream and headed home. After several days in the comma Jan awoke, sat up in bed and announced she was back. The amazing thing that was documented by the nuns at St. Joseph’s hospital was that when Jan awoke, her feet were wet !!
Jan miraculously recovered and grew into a beautiful young woman. She finished grade school and graduated from John Adams High School, South Bend, Indiana on June 2, 1959. Jan married and on September 4, 1964 she gave birth to her lovely daughter Debby. Jan and her husband, Henry took many vacation trips out west while Debby was young. She told me of one trip to the Bad Lands in South Dakota and another to the top of Pike’s Peak. The next event in her life was June 6 1982 when Debby graduated high school.
On November 18, 1985 Debby presented Jan with her first grandson, Christopher. He was the apple of Jan's eye. On October 13, 1986 Jan's second grandson, Andrew was born. The family then moved to Ruston, La. in October of 1987, the same month Jan received her third grandson, Jeffery. Her joy was short lived though, as God called Jeffery home after only one short month. He died suddenly on November 28, 1987.
On March 24, 1988 her adopted daughter Michelle entered her life. Jan's joy was soon shattered again when, on December 28, a car Michelle was riding in was struck and Michelle was critically injured. Once again, as Jan put it, God interceded and Michelle survived.
Jan miraculously recovered and grew into a beautiful young woman. She finished grade school and graduated from John Adams High School, South Bend, Indiana on June 2, 1959. Jan married and on September 4, 1964 she gave birth to her lovely daughter Debby. Jan and her husband, Henry took many vacation trips out west while Debby was young. She told me of one trip to the Bad Lands in South Dakota and another to the top of Pike’s Peak. The next event in her life was June 6 1982 when Debby graduated high school.
On November 18, 1985 Debby presented Jan with her first grandson, Christopher. He was the apple of Jan's eye. On October 13, 1986 Jan's second grandson, Andrew was born. The family then moved to Ruston, La. in October of 1987, the same month Jan received her third grandson, Jeffery. Her joy was short lived though, as God called Jeffery home after only one short month. He died suddenly on November 28, 1987.
On March 24, 1988 her adopted daughter Michelle entered her life. Jan's joy was soon shattered again when, on December 28, a car Michelle was riding in was struck and Michelle was critically injured. Once again, as Jan put it, God interceded and Michelle survived.
Happiness returned when on May 19, 1991 when Jan's first granddaughter, Bethany, was born. Soon after her daughter, Michelle was married. A year later tragedy struck Jan again. In January 1992 her husband Henry died of heart failure.
The family returned to South Bend in June 1996 leaving Michelle and her husband in Ruston. Michelle gave Jan another grandson in January 1998. His name is Jamie.
While staying with her daughter, Debby and her family, Jan got a computer and soon was playing card games on-line. Jan grew especially fond of Canasta. She met and became friends with Paula who was living in Florida. In 1999, Jan came to visit Paula in Florida for two weeks. She returned home but came back in 2000.
Jan was staying with Paula when I met her. We talked on the phone a few times, the last being during hurricane Gordon on October 17, 2000. Jan took a chance and agreed to meet me to see the hurricane up close and personal. Paula brought her over to Clearwater and we went to the Clearwater pier. I took Jan out to the end of the pier. She was terrified but somehow new she would be safe with me. Something touched us that day and we both knew our lives were meant to be spent together. I remember I kissed her and then the seagulls started flying backwards. We were together from that day on.
In January 2001 Jan and I took a trip to South Bend for her parents to meet me. I was welcomed with open arms. I soon discovered where Jan got her love of dolls, (both her parents). We visited Debby and her family and I was again warmly accepted as a member of the family.
When we returned home it was time for the Sarasota Highland Games. Jan has always been terrified of bridges and the trip involved crossing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This is one of the highest suspension bridges in the country. We went with some friends and I remember blindfolding Jan as we approached the bridge. She held my hand and over we went. I regained the use of my hand some time later. Jan had so much fun at those Highland Games even though it was cold and rainy the whole time.
Our love for each other grew and on February 17, 2001 in the company of a few close friends, we pledged our love to each other and made a commitment to be together "for all eternity".
March brought the Renaissance Festival, a Medieval Fair. Jan had a great time and ate her first smoked turkey leg. On our way out we ran into Hulk Hogan and Jan got her picture taken with him.
During March we went on a weekend camping trip. June brought Jan’s birthday. Debby and Bethany came to visit and we all went to Walt Disney World for 2 days. Despite Jan getting a cut on her leg and a visit to the hospital emergency room before we even got checked in, we all had a great time. After that we went to Bush Gardens and Jan petted her first Ball Python.
In August 2001 it’s Jan’s mother’s and father’s birthday. We took a trip to South Bend to celebrate with them. From there we went to visit our best friend, Trina who was married and living in Canada. Unbeknownst to us there was a Highland Games going on 50 miles away and Jan couldn’t pass up the chance to go. On the way back we stopped at my hometown of Niagara Falls, New York. I had a chance to show her the house I grew up in, my high school and where I went to college and where I worked. She laughed, cried and loved every minute of it. My fondest memory was Jan mesmerized with watching the lights on the Falls from our room window. We went on the boat ride called Maid of the Mist, which goes right up to the Falls. This was something she never expected. She got very wet.
From there we drove to St. Louis where my son Andrew, his wife Kate and my grand daughter Hannah lived. They embraced Jan with open arms. She was tickled that she had now met part of my family and loved them. From there we drove to Ruston La. and visited Michelle and Jamie, who I had not yet met. After two weeks it was good to be home.
As busy as 2001 had been, 2002 was almost as hectic. Jan had grown to love everything Scottish, the music, the food, bagpipes, the Highland Games, all of it. We went to most of the Highland Games in the state of Florida, from Jacksonville in the north to Miami in the south and even up into Georgia.
2003 started off quiet with nothing but Jan and I being together enjoying our life together. For her birthday in June I promised Jan a swimming pool. July brought the completion of the pool. This was like a dream come true to Jan. She loved her pool and when we were home, that’s where I found her. She always loved doing crafts and would spend hours in or sitting by the pool and working on her crafts. Life seemed perfect. In August we went back to South Bend for Tillie’s 90th birthday party. It was an event to be remembered. Of course we also did a number of Highland Games in the state as had become our vacation trips.
In February of 2004, Jan and I traveled to St. Augustine, Florida to see the Fountain of Youth. The first week of April brought the Dunedin Highland Games. It was my clans annual General Meeting and a week long list of activities.
It took some time but on April 17, 2004 we were married on Honeymoon Island beach in a somewhat Scottish wedding. Jan’s best friend Paula gave her away and my son Andrew was my best man. It was the second happiest day of our lives. After the wedding we had a reception in Jan’s favorite place, her pool. By the time of our wedding, Jan and I had developed an intimacy, love and understanding that few people have or will ever experience. We not only shared each other’s thoughts, we knew them without even speaking. Our minds and souls had truly become one.
In June we traveled to South Bend to celebrate Jan’s birthday since her father was too ill to come to the wedding. Tragedy struck again on October 30, 2004 when Jan's father, David Good passed away. We were fortunate to have been there and Jan was with him when he died at the age of 95.
Jan is a wonderful, loving and caring person. Her heart went out to everyone and she loved everyone she knew. Her heart was big enough to allow us to have her daughter and grandchildren live with us while her daughter, Debby went to nursing school. This was Debby's dream and Jan was so extremely proud of her when she graduated last year.
Despite Jan's medical problems of a bad back she found strengths to overcome these obstacles and had a great zest for life. She was a member of Clan Graham and would help out at the clan tent when we went to the games. She was a member of the New World Celts. Jan would take tickets and greet everyone at the door and help out in the tent at all the events. Jan's love of on-line canasta continued and she became a tournament director for the Canasta Fools on Pogo. She had on-line friends all over the world. She spoke on-line with friends in Alaska, California, Scotland, Ireland and Texas to name a few. Jan loves all God's animals and despite having a dog and cat of our own, when a very good friend of ours died suddenly and a home was needed for the two friends dogs, Jan and I adopted them into our home. Along with our own dog 'Trina' the three became a source of joy for Jan. Many times I would come into the room to find all 3 of them on her lap as she sat at the computer.
Life was good to Jan and I until April, 2006 when I had my heart attack. Jan was with me the whole time and saw that I had the best of care. That summer, Jan's cousin Marion came to visit. They both spent a lot of time at the beach. They went to the Sponge Docks and did all the touristy things together. Later that month Jan's mother and sister came to visit for a month. They all spent time at the beach or pool. Jan was truly enjoying life, surrounded by her mother, sister, cousin, daughter and grand daughter. Jan was fortunate that both her grandsons made her a great grandmother with the births of Allison and AJ. Jan got to be at the hospital to see both of them just after they were born. She was there when they came home and got to spend time with them and help care for them. We had a birthday party for Jan on June 6 with cake, ice cream and of course 'Winnie the Pooh' decorations.
Jan started commenting about some discomfort in her chest around the middle of June. We made an appointment with the doctor who recomended a heart catherization, to see what was going on. She already had a stint in each of the two arteries going to her kidneys. There had been some complications during that procedure but the doctor was aware of the problem. Jan was going to have her catherization done in the same hospital and by the same doctor who did mine in April.
On the morning of June 30, I took Jan to the hospital for the procedure. Little did I know at that time that I would be coming back home alone. The procedure showed major blockage in at least two places and the doctor said we needed to discuss heart surgery once Jan re-cooperated. Then the problems began and Jan's blood pressure dropped. She was bleeding internally and dispite their every effort is could not be stopped. The same doctor who performed the procedure at 8:00 in the morning was still by her side when Jan died at 2:35 am on July 1, 2006
Jan will forever be remembered and will remain in the hearts of all those lucky enough to have known her.
03/06/2021 DEC