Jan Elizabeth Tholen Saab
Obituary
NEWTON — Jan Elizabeth Tholen Saab, 67, of Newton, died on
Tuesday (Feb. 14, 2012) at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.
Jan was born on Oct. 30, 1944, in Winfield to Thomas Edward
and Betty Dulaney Tholen. She moved to Emporia at the close of World War II
with her parents.
Jan was an enthusiastic student throughout her childhood and
could often be found with her nose in a book, a love that continued throughout
her life. She graduated from Emporia High School with honors in 1962. She went
on to attend Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) and
graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1966. Jan earned a master’s
degree in reading in 1987 from Wichita State University.
On Dec. 27, 1966, Jan married Fred Saab in Emporia. They
made their home in Merriam, where Jan taught sixth grade in Shawnee Mission. In
1969, Jan took a leave of absence from the teaching profession to start a
family. David Phillip was born in 1969. In 1972, Kathryn Cord joined the
family.
In the summer of 1976, Jan moved with her family to Newton,
the town she called home for the remainder of her life. Jan’s third child, Paul
Kahlil, was born in 1980.
Jan was active in numerous organizations, always generous in
her time and passionate with her work. She was a member of Tri Sigma sorority,
PEO, Ladies Reading Circle, Newton Community Theater, St. Mary Catholic Church,
Friends of the Library, as well as many others. She volunteered her time with
St. Matthew Payee Program, Meals on Wheels, Harvey County Homeless Shelter, and
was a volunteer and on the Board of Directors for CASA of Harvey County. Jan
was faithful to her hour of Perpetual Adoration at St. Mary. In 2003, Jan was
the Woman of the Year in Education and the overall Woman of the Year.
Jan was an English teacher at Newton High School for 19
years. She was committed to helping young people and wanted nothing more than
to see them succeed. She retired in May 2004 but continued as a substitute
teacher and enjoyed staying active at Newton High School.
Jan enjoyed reading, traveling, writing poetry, baking,
gardening, playing guitar, theater, tap dance, acting, golf and tennis. She
also learned woodworking and practiced yoga.
Jan is survived by her loving husband, Fred, of Newton;
three children, David (Jennifer) of Kansas City, Mo., Kathryn Taylor (Ian) of
Hutchinson, and Paul of Lawrence; two grandsons, Aidan and Declan Taylor; two
sisters, Judy Olander (Gene) of Topeka,
and Annie Tholen Butler of Leadville, Colo.; three brothers, Bill (Karen) of
Roeland Park, Mike (Cindy) of Odessa, Mo., and Joe of Tulsa, Okla. Jan had a
large extended family, as well, and loved and cared for each and every
one.
A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Mary Catholic
Church in Newton. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at St. Mary.
Condolences may be sent to Petersen Funeral Home in Newton.
Memorials may be made to CASA of Harvey County or the American Cancer Society.
