Janet Carla Henry

Jan was born in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota on December 17, 1942 to Dorothy and Carl Carstens and became an official child of God, by being baptized on January 17, 1943. She was raised in Albertville and Sleepy Eye Minnesota, along with her younger sister Mary. Jan attended St. John’s Parochial School from kindergarten to 5th grade and then in 1952, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona. East Mesa Junior High was her next school and then onto Mesa High school where she graduated in 1960, participating in choir and lettering in archery. Jan was very proud to be a Mesa High Jack Rabbit!

After graduation, Jan began a long career in banking by starting as a teller for Valley National Bank in downtown Chandler on September 13, 1960. Here she met her future husband Bill Henry, he came in to open an account and the rest is history. Their first date was to an Arizona State football game on October 3, 1964, which then led to an event filled trip, two years later on May 28, 1966, to Las Vegas, where they eloped and were married at the Gretna Green Wedding Chapel. They were married for 52 adventure filled years.

Their happy marriage was blessed with two daughters, Michele and Kathy. The family enjoyed camping, playing board and card games and spending every Sunday together as a family, at Dorothy and Carl’s house.

Jan took after her mother and father and was an amazing cook and baker and loved to whip up yummy recipes for others. As Corinthians tells us “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Jan took this to heart and would bake goodies for friends, family and even people she didn’t know. She loved being in the kitchen, clipping LOTS of recipes and her family and friends thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of her labor.

Jan retired from Bank One in 2004 and during her retirement, her love for animals blossomed and she rescued and loved many fur babies. Antiquing with Bill and drives up north were there favorite way to spend their days and weekends. They even traveled to England, to visit Michele, her husband Paul and their two beautiful grandchildren Tyler and Cammi, who were stationed at Mildenhall Air Force Base and did a quick visit to Ireland.

Over the last several years, Jan traveled back to England and Scotland with a fellow Mesa High friend, and loved going to new places. Her daughters treated her to a trip to New York and got to do a life-long dream of having a horse drawn carriage ride through Central Park and seeing Broadway plays. Jan loved visiting Michele’s family in various parts of Texas and enjoying the Lone Star State, they have great antiquing there too, she would say with a wink. Bill and Jan loved road trips, so they could bring back fun treasures to add to their home. Later on in her retirement, she joined Red Hats Ladies Society and thoroughly enjoyed attending lunches and meetings, while incorporating her signature leopard print in her wardrobe. She also enjoyed attending family reunions and learning about her ancestry.

Bill was taken to heaven on February 12, 2019 and Jan said “I’m sad but I know I will see him again and it will be amazing.” Her faithfulness never wavered.

Jan was preceeded in death by her parents Carl Carstens and Dorothy Carstens and her husband Bill Henry. She is survived by her sister Mary Carstens, her daughter Michele Tech (Paul), her daughter Kathy Henry and two grandchildren, Tyler and Cammi Tech, and multiple cousins spread throughout the country.

Jan requested that any memorials given be directed to the Building Fund at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona.

Her celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 with viewing from 1-2pm and service to follow at 2pm.