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 The smile was always there

When tomorrow starts without me......

It is with great sorrow that we report that former Ames PD Communications Center Supervisor Jan Stoeffler passed away on Saturday, June 19, 2004.

Her death was the result of a 3 year battle with cancer.

For those of you who knew Jan, she always maintained a positive attitude and even to the end was positive. She was always a happy person, always gung ho communications, always a lot of fun.  We will miss her but know she is no longer suffering and will be with us always.

 

Funeral services were held Wednesday June 23^rd at the Zion Lutheran Church Gowrie, IA.

 

 

Taken at Yankee Stadium on May 16th With Sandy Morris from DSMPD

 

Jan, Al Marquardt and T.G. Mieure

 

  

 

 

 

 

Reflections

From: T.G. Mieure
Agency: Illinois APCO
Date: Wednesday June 23, 2004
Jan was a person who would not take defeat lying down. Throughout my life, I've become to know friends and relatives with cancer. Jan was a fighter!!!! While I think a lot of people would have given up a long time ago, Jan was determined not to let this beat her. She was always a trooper. No matter how bad she may have felt, she always wanted to do things with "the gang."

Jan, you will be missed by all of us, but you are at peace now and forever

 

 

From: Paul Relyea
Agency: New York PD
Date: Thursday June 24, 2004
To My Friend Jan Stoeffler,

My thoughts and prayers are always with you.

 

Friends of Jan, my name is Paul Relyea from New York City. For those of you that don’t know me, I am a police officer for the City of New York.

 

Most of the time I am in civilian clothes. Several times a year, I work in uniform at a particular event. August of 2003 I was working at the Radio City Music Awards (MTV) in uniform on 6th Avenue and approximately 48th Street. During this time, my life changed having the opportunity to meet four wonderful people-Jan, Amy, Toni and Autumn. Right from the start everything just clicked. We just couldn’t stop laughing- telling each other jokes.

 

After being informed about the reason for the trip, I wanted to make their moment very special by continuing to tell jokes and taking pictures. I felt like we all knew each other, like I already had friends in Iowa that I didn’t know about. The next few days was a life experience for me. I was living in New York and being a tourist at the same time. It was just so much fun.

 

Just last month or so, Jan, Sandy, and Jan V. (again, I am blessed with more of Jan’s wonderful friends) came to take on New York again. Dealing with the crowds of people, avoiding getting run over by a taxicab and just planning to have a ball in the city.

 

Fun it was! We traveled all over Manhattan passing through the World Trade Center, World Financial Center, Central Park and the eastside to the Westside of Manhattan covering every inch. (Yes, we even passed through the tough neighborhood of Harlem.)

 

Next it was on to the World Famous Cyclone located in Coney Island. You get the ride of your life on this rollercoaster. Just after we arrived, I asked Jan if she was sure. She stated, “Let’s go for it.” Just a grand time had by all! On to the Bronx. Yes, we had a blast at the Yankee game. This game was for Jan with the Yankee’s winning 2-1. I could easily write a book about our great experiences, but I know Jan has a lot of loving friends that would like to say a few words.

 

In closing, I have never met such a wonderful person in my life. With all that Jan was going through, ( chemo, doctors visits, treatments, etc.) I don’t wish that on anybody. Throughout her whole ordeal, she never complained with all that was going on in her life. It takes a very special person to be in pain or to have pain, and to be as positive as she was. Most individuals would have faulted. I am privileged to have been a friend of Jan’s. She will always be in my heart.

 

My tribute to Jan from me is every year for the rest of my life, a mass will be said at St. Paul’s chapel on her birthday.

 

To all of Jan friends and family, especially her parents, Amy, Toni, Autumn, Jan V., Sandy, Nancy, John, and all her other friends, thank you for being there for Jan in her time of need.

Love Always, Paul Relyea

 

From: Nancy Brady
Agency: ILEA
Date: Thursday June 24, 2004
Jan's mom called this morning to ask for some people's addresses. The family is so grateful to everyone for your love and support. And special thanks to you, Mark, for creating this page. What a thoughtful idea.