Janice Stobbe

Janice Ruth Arvig Stobbe

Janice Ruth Arvig Stobbe age 76 died November 15, 2014 at home in Minnetonka surrounded by her family. Jan was born on January 22, 1938 to Orville Stanley Arvig and Helen Marie (Kaler) Arvig in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jan graduated from Stillwater High School in 1955. She professed to serve God when she was a teenager. Jan and Al met at Emo Convention in 1956. On November 15, 1958, she married Alvin Gene Stobbe in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jan died on their 56th wedding anniversary, and together they lived in Clearwater Florida, St. Paul, Maplewood, Golden Valley, and Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Jan had a love and unwavering faith in God. She enjoyed hearing the word, and singing hymns. Jan enjoyed the fellowship of many friends and family. She often quoted in meeting a version of Deuteronomy 6:5 "I love the Lord God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength", and this was her last testimony at convention in 2011. She liked to play hymns on both her piano and organ, along with other music.

Before her health declined and she started losing her eyesight: Jan loved to knit, and sew. She use to bring her girls into the "Velvet Coach" at Dayton's, and have them try on outfits... which she would sketch, and go home and make a pattern. Then she would not only make her kids their clothes, but matching outfits for their dolls. In her earlier years she taught knitting classes, and made many items that are treasured by her family today. She was also an avid china painter, and did this for many years - even traveling to San Francisco to take a class.

She enjoyed traveling to many different countries in Europe with her family. Her favorite cruise was through the Panama Canal and South America. They went on many trips to Hawaii, and for many years went out west on family ski trips. Jan would sign up for ski lessons as her family passed up her skiing ability. Jan and Al also enjoyed taking their family all over the United States in their motor home and airplane. Through the years they have visited almost every state, including Alaska. She always appreciated that her family did most of their traveling when she was younger, and before her health declined.

Jan loved to host family and friends, and was always asking if anyone needed coffee or cookies. Her family will tell you that they have many great memories of being together: swimming at a hotel in Florida - as they waited for Jan to get off of work. Playing games with her grandchildren and the many games of croquet where no one liked to lose. Mackinaw Island was a favorite summer destination. Jan told her children and grandchildren often that they were loved and special.

Jan became a diabetic at 27, and struggled with her health most of her life. She went into kidney failure at 48 years old, while on vacation in Mexico, and had a kidney transplant on December 21, 1992 (54 yrs.). Her family has been always thankful to their dear friend who donated her kidney and gave Jan extra years with her family.

Jan started out her career working in a bank as a loan closer. She went on to be an appraiser, and Real Estate Broker. Mostly she helped her husband with their custom home building business, and was a homemaker raising her family.

Jan spent several years researching her family history - she was an eleventh generation Mayflower descendant, and a member of the Mayflower Society. We are reminded to remember our past... these people in our family history are more than dusty old names - they are a part of us. Their choices created our history, and it's this history that shapes our present.

Jan is survived by her husband Al, daughters: Lynne Stobbe (St. Louis Park, MN) & Dawne (John) Rohlf (Northville, MI), son: Lance (Minnetonka, MN), and her grandchildren: Eric Rohlf (Kalamazoo, MI) & Allison Rohlf (Bloomington, MN). She is also survived by her brother: Richard (Zona) Arvig (Forest Lake, MN), sisters: Deanna (Donald) Auld and Jean Nelson (both of Stillwater, MN.), sister-in-laws: Cathy Arvig (Eden Prairie, MN), and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her: Parents: Helen & Orville Arvig, and her brother Stan Arvig.