She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to her parents, Shigeru and Kiyoko Ishii on April 2, 1942. She attended Roosevelt High School in Honolulu. After high school, Janet attended nursing school in Honolulu and received her LPN. In 1960, Janet met Larry at Kaimuki Christian Church. They married in 1962, and in 1963 welcomed their daughter, Tracy. Janet, Larry and Tracy lived in Hawaii for just six months before their move to Twentynine Palms, California.
The Marine Corps took the family to many cities in the United States, until their move to Okinawa, Japan in 1973. Janet and Larry welcomed their son, Michael, in 1975. 1976, the family returned to Missouri, where Janet worked at Merriam Laboratories until her retirement in 1991. After her retirement, Janet traveled with Larry to Bluegrass festivals, and to visit family in Texas and Indiana. They were snowbirds and spent their winters in Melbourne, Florida with their friends and family. Janet enjoyed eating seafood, swimming with dolphins, making greeting cards, playing dominoes and cards and reading books.
Janet is survived by her children, Tracy Ruggles (Doug) and Michael Cook (Melissa), six grandchildren; twins, Andrew and Bryce, and Shane Ruggles, and Trynlee, and twins, Teddy and Ty Cook.
Jan's selflessness and her kind and caring nature will be missed by all of her family and friends.
