Jan Fouts, 73, of West Lafayette, died Wednesday, June 1, 2011, peacefully at her home after an extended illness.
She was born Aug. 24, 1937 in Lafayette to Adolphus and Mary Irene Orrell. She graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1955 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Purdue University in 1959.
She married Craig C. Fouts March 21, 1958 in Battle Ground and they were married 49 years before his death in February of 2007.
She was a history teacher at Chalmers High School and Avon High School for 10 years. Later in life she was also a licensed Realtor for Yount Realty in Lafayette.
In 1971 she helped form the Battle Ground Historical Corporation and was instrumental in the development of the Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum and Wabash Valley Trust for Historic Preservation. She was the Director of the Tippecanoe Battlefield for many years.
She was a member of Bethel Christian Life Center.
She won the George Award for community service in 1974.
She was an avid historian and loved animals, the outdoors and traveling. She enjoyed her beach house in Gulf Shores. As a scratch golfer, she won the Indiana State Seniors Tournament and several Edwood Glen club championships.
She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She was preceded her in death by her parents; her husband; and brother, Dow Orrell.
Survivors include son, Craig (Betsy) Fouts of Chesterton, Ind.; daughter, Andrea (Eric) Olsen of Willow Park, Texas; sister, Sharon Clerget (fiancé: Brad Brookshire) of Chalmers; and four grandchildren, Craig III, Peter, Andrew and Chris.
Visitation begins at 11 a.m. with funeral services at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at Bethel Christian Life Center, West Lafayette, La., with Pastor Ted Brust officiating. Interment will follow at Battle Ground Cemetery.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Bethel Christian Life Center building fund.
Arrangements are by Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home, Brookston, La. Online condolences may be made at www.clapperfuneralservices.com.
