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Jan Walter Janssen of Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, passed away peacefully on March 16 in home hospice care in Branford. His 97 years were lived with quiet grace and dignity, courage and humor. During his long and active life, Jan engaged in two lengthy and successful careers: as an officer in the US Air Force and as dean of students at Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland. He survived two charming (but also challenging) wives and marriages—to Andrea Brauner Janssen (1944 to 1973) and to Charity Hinebaugh Janssen (1976 to 2014).

Jan is survived by an impressive blended family—Kaaren and Nikolina Janssen, Liz and John Forrester, Leslie Hinebaugh and Pete McIver, and Guy and Hazel Hinebaugh; assorted grandchildren—Kristin and Jeffrey Rose, Conor and Colton Forrester, and Peter and Willie McIver; and by his half-sister Clara Maddox.

During WWII Jan flew supplies across the Himalayas (over “the hump”) from India into China to support the Flying Tigers. For extraordinary service, Jan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals of note. After retiring from the Air Force in 1967, he earned a Ph.D. in education. Upon finally retiring from college life, Jan and Charity embarked on an intrepid, months-long sailing adventure to the Bahamas.

Jan’s grandson Jeffrey Rose completes the picture of this beloved man: “Few people whom we know when we are children manage to maintain that ‘larger than life’ persona in our eyes once we reach adulthood. My grandfather, Jan Janssen, was one of those people. An avid outdoorsman and adventurer, he continued to ski, sail and hike into his 80s. He was one of the kindest, gentlest people I’ve ever known. ‘GrandJan’ had a long, successful life, filled with joy and people who loved him. He will be dearly missed, but I’ll carry his spirit in my heart for the rest of my days.”

Memorial donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice or to The Nature Conservancy.

Services will be held privately in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, by the family. Arrangements in the care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com.