Jan Charles Garretson

Jan was born in Idaho on October 11, 1944 to Jack and Isabelle Garretson. As a child his family (which had grown to include his brother Randy and sister Leslie) moved to Champagne Point in Kirkland where many of his childhood hijinx first took root. His years at the University of Washington were filled with competitive skiing, debate and dear friends who shared his sense of humor and covert adventure. After graduating, Jan attended OCS and joined the US Marines. It was during his time at OCS that he met Janice. That chance encounter led to a marriage of 52 years and the creation of a family who will always remember and love his strength and goodheartedness. A long career in the Bellevue Fire Department fueled his even longer career in real estate. He derived so much pleasure from the comradery of the Dept and so much satisfaction of building toward his dreams for his family one fixer-upper at a time.

Today we are so fortunate to have beloved family and friends from all these eras of Jan’s life gathering. Thank you to all of you who have made time to join us in celebrating Jan today. His generosity, goodness and dedication as a husband, father and friend inspired so many of us to be our best selves and to always think of others. His integrity and desire to always do what was right – the basis of his deep faith in God – will live on in all those he touched.