Jan M. Keith

Jan Mary Keith, 67, of Loveland, CO, was welcomed into eternal life while in Hospice Care at Sierra Vista Health Care Center on Friday, September 6, 2019. Her body succumbed to multi-system organ failure, following a grueling attempt to recover from hip replacement surgery.

Jan was born in Storm Lake, IA, to Arnold and Marian Kjolhede. Her childhood was spent on the beloved Kjolhede family farm in Alta, IA. She graduated from Alta Senior High School, Class of 1969, and attended Mankato Commercial College in Mankato, MN, studying Business and Accounting, Class of 1971.

She and her first husband, Russell J. Radke, moved to Greeley, CO in 1972. In the years that followed, Jan came to love all of Northern Colorado, where she continued to live, love, work and worship. She raised her children in Fort Collins and Windsor.

Jan had a diverse professional life with successful turns in real estate (Security Title), education (Aims Community College, Poudre High School: IB Program), and health care (Poudre Valley Hospital, Purchasing). She spent ten years providing in-home childcare to countless children, who came to love her playful nature and delicious homemade food.

In her prime, Jan was the embodiment of poise and beauty. She was crowned Miss Storm Lake and was a contestant in the Miss Iowa Beauty Pageant, circa 1969-70. In the 1990s, she walked the runway as a model for the ArtWear Fashion Shows and the Junior League of Fort Collins annual fashion fundraisers. She was often photographed for Razzle Dazzle Designs, featured in Lydia's Style Magazine. She was incredibly stylish, unafraid to take fashion risks and always able to pull off the latest trend.

Jan was a gifted entertainer and hostess: there was nothing she loved more than having people gather in her home, to converse and to linger, to indulge in her fabulous cooking and sensational storytelling. She had a flare for interior design and holiday decorating. At Christmas time she would transform her home into an elegant winter wonderland, delighting her children, grandchildren and guests. Her home and her wardrobe were a testament to her love of travel and southwest culture.

Jan had a memorable and magnetic personality: she was charming and flirty, even in her final days. She was often described as "a light" in this world, bright and shiny, always ready with a smile and an optimistic outlook. She had a wicked sense of humor, was unafraid to laugh at herself and loved to be the center of attention. She was a woman you couldn't help but love. And she was loved by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children: Jason Radke (wife Katie, children Makenzie, Tanner, Jake, Madison & Griffin), Jennifer Radke (children Rowan & Christopher Rodriguez), Christopher Keith (wife Kimberly, children Braxton, Maksim, Lilyan & Charlotte), and Zachary Keith (daughter Paisley). She is also survived by her mother, Marian Kjolhede, and three siblings: Luther Kjolhede, Candace Lichtenberg, Jeff Kjolhede and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Arnold C. Kjolhede, her second husband, Terry L. Keith, and by her son-in-law, Richard R. Rodriguez. Her children and her grandchildren were the greatest loves of her life.

Jan proclaimed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church for over 30 years. She whole-heartedly trusted in God's promise: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Jan Mary Kjolhede Radke Keith was truly a gift from God and we were lucky to have her for as long as we did. From a very young age, Jan understood that God had first chosen her long before she had the option to choose Him. She did what she was called to do: she was the first to introduce each of her children to Jesus Christ, she had each of them baptized and marked with the Cross of Christ forever. She was the first one to teach them to pray. What a gift to each of them and to this world…and what a legacy to leave behind.

Her last moments on this earth were precious and calm. Her beautiful blue eyes were clear and bright, and without fear. These were the words spoken over her as the breath of life left her poor, broken body, and as she was born anew: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord look upon you with favor and give you His peace." Numbers 6: 24-26 NIV

A celebration of life will be held in Jan's honor on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 2:00pm at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, CO with reception to follow. Memorial funds have been established in her honor, c/o Jennifer Radke, 1604 Hughes Dr., Cedar Park, TX 78613. We also encourage all of her friends and family to post tributes and pictures here on Jan's tribute page.