Jane Young DeHaan, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Feb. 11, 2025, at the age of 85 in Chico, California. As we mourn her loss, we celebrate her extraordinary life and the immeasurable impact she had on her family, friends and community.
Jane is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, Jim DeHaan; her children, Lisa (Bryan) Hoppe and Tim DeHaan; her grandchildren, Taylor (Danny) Greenwood and Jordan (Trevor) Edgecomb; her great grandchildren, Skylar and Bodie Greenwood, and Murphy Edgecomb; and her brother, Mike (Lynn) Young, and niece, Miranda. She also leaves behind three cousins; Roger (Pep) Young, Kay Kilpatrick, and Bob Kilpatrick; her in-laws Mike and Terry DeHaan, and many nieces,nephews and cousins.
As we reflect on Jane’s life, we marvel at her remarkable career in education that spanned over 30 years. Her career began in Long Beach and ended in Fortuna, where Jane worked in a number of roles including high school journalism teacher, middle school English teacher, district project manager, district librarian, Principal, and multi-age second–fourth grade teacher. In addition to her work in K-12 education, Jane also taught children’s literature, creative writing and English courses at College of the Redwoods, sharing her passion for storytelling and language with adults. Through years of experience, she became specialized in children’s literature and elementary curriculum. Upon her retirement in 2000, the Fortuna School District honored Jane by naming the South Fortuna School (Linell K. Walker Elementary School) library the “Jane DeHaan Reading Corner.”
Jane’s leadership extended beyond the classroom and was widely recognized. She served as president of the Fortuna Elementary Teachers Association (FETA/CTA), president of the Humboldt County Administrators Association, and board member of the regional board and state committee. She was active in many volunteer organizations, including the PTA, Boy Scouts, and 4-H in support of her children. She received many awards of distinction, including the Excellence in Teaching Award for Humboldt County and the Hugh B. Stewart Award. A strong believer in service, Jane was also active in Soroptimist International, serving as president for two years of the Eel River branch. In retirement, Jane continued to impact the local community with her love of books by volunteering many hours to the Friends of the Fortuna Library. She created and developed “Library Days,” which is now an annual event.
Jane’s vibrancy extended far beyond her professional life. She was a woman of great elegance and grace who had a unique uplifting spirit — whether she was guiding a student, mentoring a teacher, or cheering on her beloved children and grandchildren, she was always a source of encouragement. She was a gifted writer and storyteller, as well as an excellent conversationalist with a quick wit. She never took life too seriously. Her positive spirit was contagious; as a result, Jane was considered a good friend to many, including past students, who she cherished. She maintained those relationships over the years, a testament of the exceptional friend she was. She loved sending and receiving cards. Above all else, Jane loved her family. She was a doting wife to her husband, Jim, whom she adored. She was a nurturing, loving mom. When the time came, she was thrilled to step into her role as grandma. She created many magical moments for her granddaughters, many of which are their most cherished memories.
Jane’s career and family life kept her busy, yet she always found time to read, play piano, bake and listen to jazz. She had an affinity for cozy sweaters and beautiful earrings. Her creativity extended to jewelry making, knitting, and writing. She enjoyed traveling, near and far, often visiting her home state of Indiana, where friends and family still live. She never forgot her midwestern roots and had fond memories of her hometown, Evansville, Indiana. She also loved to reminisce about the adventurous year she spent hitchhiking through Europe with a close friend and working as a nanny in Austria. Locally, Jane enjoyed exploring the redwoods and North Coast in Humboldt County.
Jane’s legacy will live on in the students she inspired, the educators she mentored, the stories she wrote, and the family she adored. We will miss her light, laughter, and love.
Jane’s family would like to send a special thank you to her caregivers who loved and cared for her the past three years: Susie, Susan and Khampha. There is no memorial service planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation in her memory to the Friends of Fortuna Library, a cause near and dear to her heart. Additionally, if you’re a avid reader like Jane was, her family would like to share one last book recommendation in her memory: Jane’s all-time favorite book, The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter.
This article appears in ‘Breathing Room’.