January 26, 1935 – July 14, 2018
Janet M. Spuck passed away July 14, 2018 after a valiant fight with cancer at the age of 83. She was born January 26, 1935 the fourth of five children to Albin and Murial (Reinhart) Nothiger on the family farm in Sweet Home, Ore.
Janet graduated from Sweet Home High School in 1953 and from Lewis & Clark College in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, completing a Masters of Teaching and Supervision in Nursing in 1965 at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Committed to life-long learning she completed the Health Systems Management Certificate at Harvard University Graduate School of Business in 1978.
Janet began her nursing career at Good Samaritan Hospital and the American Red Cross as a staff nurse travelling the State of Oregon with the latter. She began her teaching career as an instructor at the Emanuel Hospital School of Nursing in 1966 rising to become the Vice President of Nursing at Legacy Emanuel in 1976. Leaving Emanuel in 1985 she joined the nursing faculty of the Washington State University – Vancouver Campus in 1991 where she was still teaching when she passed. In addition, she was also on the clinical staff of Assured Home Health, Longview, WA. Never one to be idle she was President, Oregon Chapter-American Organization of Nurse Executives; adjunct faculty, Pacific University, Forest Grove; Director of Nursing, Parkrose Nursing Home; Owner of LTC Nursing Service; and completed policy review, accreditation reviews, community education, committee work, research or testing services with the National League of Nursing, the Oregon State Board of Nursing, Oregon Nurses Association, Long Term Care Nurses of Oregon, Sigma Theta Tau International, Western Institutes of Nursing, Interim Health Care, Mt. Hood Medical Center, and the VA Medical Center among other recruitment and nursing related activities with WSU and Emanuel. Janet was the recipient of many awards, recognitions, served in many leadership roles and published her research and work in order to further the field of nursing.
When not working, Janet enjoyed: travelling the world-even visiting and returning from Asia on a merchant ship with her former husband; she often travelled for work around the United States and Europe, and to also visit her children and grandchildren; cooking; gardening; reading; and learning about Native American culture and gemology. Janet was a volunteer with Prisoner Visitation and Support making monthly visits to the federal prison in Sheridan, OR from 1989 to 2004. She was devoted to supporting and mentoring her family, friends, students and neighbors-even checking in on former patients to see how they were doing.
She is survived by her husband Frederick G. Van Ronk whom she married in 2004; sisters Byrdene Brown and Mardelle Hufford; brother Daryl Nothiger (wife Carollin); daughters Andrea Spuck (husband Tim Southerst) and Darci Spuck (husband Chris Sylves); and three grandchildren, Alexandra, Elizabeth and John Southerst. Along with her many adored nieces, nephews, friends and students. She was preceded in death by her husband C. Andrew Spuck to whom she was married from 1960 – 1995; and her eldest sister Edith Crockett.
A funeral will be held at 12 p.m., Monday, July 23, 2018, at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd. Portland, OR 97229. Reception immediately following at Skyline.
For updates, a full obituary, and memorial information please visit: http://www.skylinememorialgardens.com.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests making a contribution to the WSU Foundation to support the Janet Spuck Memorial Nursing Scholarship at WSU Vancouver. Contributions can be sent to:
WSU Vancouver
Liz Becker
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98686
Make checks payable to the WSU Foundation or visit Vancouver.wsu.edu/gocougs to make an online gift (select the WSU Vancouver Scholarship Fund and include a note in the comment section “In memory of Janet Spuck”. Questions, contact Liz at 360-546-9281.