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Janet “Jan” Noguere, 83, of Corvallis, Oregon, passed away on July 15, 2025. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt, daughter, spouse, cousin and friend. Jan was born on Saturday, February 21, 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Rena Bertha (Dornbus) and Guthrie Dorwin Van Camp. Jan’s (maternal) grandparents were Anna (Osterhous Venema) Gregg and John Dornbus of Kalamazoo, Michigan and great grandparents Broerkjen Baukes “Bertha” Haitsma and Taeke Foppes Venema both of Workum, Friesland, Netherlands. Jan spent her early years in Seventh Day Adventist Church schools in Waycross, Georgia, and Jacksonville & Orlando, Florida. She also attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She was a romantic at heart and loved poetry, literature, and classical music, such as Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. But she also had a bit of a crush on Elvis Presley when he was popular. She loved watching football and baseball, and listened to records, writing down the lyrics of love songs. In the seventh grade, she met Lanny Collins, whom she later married in 1963. They had two daughters together, Sabrina Collins Paul (Joe) and Holly Collins Noble (Todd). They divorced, and Jan relocated back to Florida with her two young daughters, where she worked and supported her family. Eventually, she remarried to Eugene Noguere, who proceeded her in death. Jan enjoyed gardening, reading, crocheting, spending time with family, and being with her beloved dog, Simon, whom she referred to as her poodoodle. She frequently commented on, and enjoyed looking at, her favorite Renoir painting- Dance at Bougival. Jan had an incredible sense of humor, zest for life, love of nature, and was well loved wherever she went. She loved the years that she and her sister lived on the same street in DeLand, FL, as they had many adventures together and tucked each other into bed at night by phone. In 2021, she made the bold decision to move from Florida where she lived near her sister, and extended family, to be closer to her youngest daughter, Holly, in Oregon; and receive support with her Alzheimer’s. She was always quick to say how happy she was to have special time with family, whether it was the annual trips to Gatlinburg with the Reed & Paul clans, holidays spent at the Reed home(s), trips to Boca Grande with loved ones, going to a baseball game, to the beach, to Dairy Queen, to a concert, having a special meal together, etc. She greeted everyone with “hi Darlin,” would answer the phone saying “one ringy dingy, two ringy dingies.” When asked if she wanted to do something she would answer either “In a New York minute!” or with “Has a cat got a butt?!” When she really enjoyed an activity or food, she would say “That’s as close to heaven as I’ll ever get,” with an enormous smile on her face. Anytime she said goodbye to someone that had come to visit her, she would always tell them lovingly to “Hug the curbs!” on their drive home. She was an extraordinary woman in so many ways, with her positive attitude towards life. When asked what it was like to have Alzheimer’s, she described that each morning she recognized that she wanted her thoughts to come together like fingers linking your hands, but that the thoughts just wouldn’t link together. She reported that in the early years it made her anxious, but later she was able to accept it. She frequently joked that she had “scrambled eggs for brains” and would actually chuckle about it, saying she didn’t want to waste time crying over it. She chose to be positive. Alzheimer’s never robbed her of her sweet, genuine nature and the essence of her personality. If anything, she became more sweet and loving. She loved her staff and community at her assisted living facility, and later, her memory care home. She was able to participate in two Walks to End Alzheimer’s during the past three years, with support from her staff. She made so many dear friends, all of whom were of support to her, and she in turn to them. She will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her, and held her dear. Hug the curbs! Survivors: Daughters Sabrina Collins Paul (Joe) Holly Collins Noble (Todd) Grandchildren Arwyn Paul Vaal (Ryan) Carson C.L. Noble Keaton C.T. Noble Tanner D.C. Noble Sister Priscilla Van Camp Reed Nephews John Reed (Tammy) Raymond Reed (Lisa) Great Nephew Connor Reed Great Niece Jessica Reed Cousin Patsy Van Camp A celebration of life will be held by family privately. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, Regent Court Memory Care, and/or Alz.org in her name.

Tributes

Janet Ellen (Van Camp) Noguere

February 21, 1942 - July 15, 2025