Michael & Loretta Rodman
I (Michael) have known Jane and her family just about as far back as I have memories. When we both lived in Fort Wayne, they lived on the same block as we did. Memories are somewhat fuzzy for that time, but I remember the small beauty parlor and barber's chair she had at the back of the house. I wasn't much more than 5 or 6 at that time. A few years later, both our families moved to the Woodlan School District and our families stayed in touch. There were a many Friday and Saturday nights when Jane, Jerry, Mom and Dad would get together to play cards. Around this time we also started our annual trips to Crooked Lake where Jane and Jerry would take their yearly vacation. It was only a day, but those days were full of adventure. Jerry was the fisherman, Jane was the skier. Jane was the one who really taught me to ski. Jane was in the water with me and Jerry would drive the boat. The one thing that really made its mark on me during these and later times was her giant personality. She always seemed to be laughing and happy. She wasn't a quiet person, but not in a bad way. If she was in the room you knew it and enjoyed it. In some ways, even the Alzheimer's couldn't take all her personality away. True, it took many of her memories, but I never saw or was told of her getting mean or doing a lot of swearing as is frequently common with Alzheimer's. And even near the very end at Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary party, she managed to give the gift of her big smile.