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Jan and James with Huw Evans '90 and family

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Jan and James with Huw Evans '90 and family

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Of all my Cranbrook classes, Keyboarding with Mrs. Wells may have had the biggest tangible daily impact. Mrs. Wells was truly a wonderful spirit of encouragement. Twice I had made outside attempts to learn typing and failed. Mrs. Wells would not hear it, her positive presence was that of a teacher who felt right there with me and was rooting for me. Not only did I learn a skill, but that with drive, guidance, and the right people in your corner the impossible is not. I am forever grateful and often fondly remember her breakthrough moment smile as I now effortlessly crank keys. She will be missed and remembered. My thoughts are with her family.

Robert Kamins CK'92

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Jan was just a wonderful, fun and intelligent lady, who had a great heart. I often enjoyed some excellent and humorous dinner conversation with her while both a student, and later as a faculty member of Cranbrook. I played violin with her son Jeff, and she was truly supportive of our musical endeavors. May the good Lord bless Jan, Jeff and family.    Randy Lazer Cranbrook '77 

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Jan was just a wonderful, fun and intelligent lady, who had a great heart. I often enjoyed some excellent and humorous dinner conversation with her while both a student, and later as a faculty member of Cranbrook. I played violin with her son Jeff, and she was truly supportive of our musical endeavors. May the good Lord bless Jan, Jeff and family.    Randy Lazer Cranbrook '77 

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Below is an excerpt from Jan's obituary, sent by her sons Jeff Wells '80 and James Wells '81.

Jan Wells passed away Tuesday, January 9th.  A Nashville native and tomboy at heart, Jan attended Trevecca Nazarene High School and University in Nashville, then finished her bachelor’s at Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) in Oklahoma City.  Later in life, Jan received her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Oakland University in Michigan.

Jan married Jim Wells (who passed away 14 months ago) in 1958 and worked as a secretary to support them through his doctorate at The Ohio State University.  After short stints in North Carolina and Virginia in the mid-1960s, Jan and Jim moved to Cranbrook Educational Community in suburban Detroit where she later taught typing/keyboarding at Cranbrook Kingswood School.

Jan loved Cranbrook and it loved her back.  She served as a beloved faculty member and advisor to many students over the years and never tired of playing cards or board games with the school’s boarding students during weekend dormitory duty.  After 28 years at Cranbrook, she and Jim retired to a lake house in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just outside her native Nashville.  There she enjoyed connecting with family and friends, played tennis and bridge, one or both nearly every day, and read avidly.  At 89, Jan and Jim moved to Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland to be nearer son Jeff, but maintained her interest in bridge and tennis, and even took up pickleball.

Known for her infectious laugh and love of play, Jan’s students and many friends appreciated her mischievous sense of fun, regardless of the situation or affair.  She was competitive too.  A “Ruby Life Master” bridge player with a killer lob on the tennis court, she was the one in the family with all the sports trophies.  And outside a loss at the bridge table or tennis court, you were still in danger of losing time if she ever started talking about her family.

Jan is survived by her son Jeff and his spouse David, son James and his spouse Thekla, and three grandsons:  Christopher, Constantin, and Alexander.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Wells Family Scholarship Fund at Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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Jan taught me how to play bridge when I moved into Marquis my sophmore year. She wasn't even technically my floor monitor, since I was Marquis II, but she was truly the most welcoming, generous, witty, and vivacious spirit. She saw a lonely kid, thousands of miles away from his family, and she made me a part of hers in some small way. I will forever think of her with nothing but the deepest of admiration for a life of compassion, respect, and love.

Ryan Bradley, CK '91

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Remembering Mrs. Wells with great affection. Her "Sem, Sem, Sem, Spayce" will live on in my memory! I use the skills she gave me every single day!

~Susan Aikens Post '78