Jan Waddill

A Celebration of Life for 92-year old Jan Waddill will be held Friday, June 9, 2023, at 10:30 at the First Presbyterian Church in Gordon, NE

Cards may be sent to McKenzie Harrison, 326 N. Main, Gordon, NE 69343

Online condolences may be left at chamberlainchapel.com.

Janet or Jan, as everyone knew her, was born at home in Lincoln, NE to Esther and George Ross on July 25, 1930. Jan went to be with the Lord on December 15, 2022.

Jan’s father George worked for the post office while her mother Esther, was an outstanding seamstress and mended clothing and took in laundry to earn extra income. 

Jan and her only sibling, Phyllis Ross Thomsen, grew up during the hard times of the 1930’s in Lincoln and were very close sisters.

Jan attended UNL, where she honed her culinary and seamstress skills while earning a 4-year college degree in Home Economics. After she graduated, she worked as a county extension agent in the Lincoln area.

While she was at UNL, Jan met and later married the love of her life, Joel Waddill. Joel was studying music and agriculture at UNL, but was also a part of the Army Reserves and was called to go to the Korean war. 

The couple pulled their Airstream trailer to Fort Gordon in Georgia in 1953 for Joel to complete his MP training. Their oldest daughter, Julie (Waddill) Alcorn was born in Augusta, GA. 

Just before Joel was to ship out to Korea, the war ended and he was free to return with his new family to the Waddill cattle ranch in the Sandhills northeast of Gordon. 

Jan brought touches of city life and social graces to her new life as a rancher’s wife as she easily moved through their many activities on and off the ranch. 

She continued to bless her family – and their many friends – with her culinary and seamstress expertise. In addition to creating matching outfits for her and the girls, Jan made Joel long-sleeved western shirts with gripper snaps.

Cindy (Waddill Richardson) Jagr, their youngest daughter, was born in 1959 and grew up on the ranch with Julie. Cindy moved to Denver after high school graduation to begin her career in interior design. 

Cindy later married and raised her family in Denver, but Grandpa Joel and Grandma Jan were close enough to be a special part of their lives as they grew. 

Jan would often drive her daughters to Sunny Knoll school, the closest rural school at 8 miles from the ranch. At times, she would have to lock in the hubs on the 4-wheel drive pickup and plow her way through mud or snow to get to the school. True grit for a city gal.

Jan moved into Gordon with the girls in 1968 so Julie could go to high school. At that time, Jan began secretarial work at the Gordon Clinic and would continue there for over 40 years.

She would greet the patients with love and compassion. People called her the huggy lady.  She worked for the clinic until she was 80 years old.

In addition to her ranch life, clinic duties, and parenting the girls, Jan and Joel were faithful members of the Gordon Presbyterian Church for many decades. They both sang in the choir and held many church offices. 

Jan was a part of the Presbyterian women’s club and gained many life-long friends as she fellowshipped with other church members over the years.

Jan was also a member of Eastern Star and women’s and couples bridge clubs in the community, played summer golf at the country club, and sang in small musical groups in the community. 

She often sang duets or solos with Joel for church and community events, even branching into acting as she played and sang the starring female role of Fiona in the Gordon community theater summer production of Brigadoon.

Jan continued with her attendance to activities as long as she was able. She remained in her Gordon home for many years until moving into the Gordon Countryside Care facility for her final years of life. 

Her surviving family will miss her ready smile, her warm well-wishes, and her sharp observations about life. She was full of wisdom for all occasions. 

Jan is survived by her daughters and their husbands and grandchildren: Ross and Julie (Waddill) Alcorn, Heath, Nic and Zac Alcorn and their families; Daniel and Cindy (Waddill Richardson) Jagr; Cyle and Dylon Richardson; Brandon and McKenzie (Richardson) Harrison and their son Gatlin; and Dylon’s girls Jude and Reagan Richardson.

Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home in Gordon is in charge of arrangements for Jan Waddill.

2 thoughts on “Jan Waddill”

  1. Thru the years I have thought of Jan as we worked together at the Gordon Clinic. She was such a nice lady and I will always remember when she came to work with orange hair and we tried not to say anything and after awhile she said did you see my hair and started to laugh. She had used outdated hair color. She will be missed and is in our prayers.
    Chris and Peggy Ford

  2. Jan was kind and caring towards my children when she worked at the clinic. My daughter had a bone disease and was in and out of the clinic frequently and no matter what they needed or asked for Jan would see that they got it.

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