Jan Burkhalter was born on February 13, 1951 in Seattle Washington to Roy and Margaret Norbeck.

She graduated from high school in 1969 where she was a cheerleader and a homecoming princess. She married Ted Burkhalter with whom she had two daughters, Julie and Joni.
Being the best mother was her main focus in life and she fulfilled it to the greatest extent. She started working for the Renton school district when the girls were both school-aged and has developed some lifelong friends along the way.
Jan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1984. As her health declined she moved in and out of several health care facilities finally ending up in Issaquah nursing and rehab in 2003 where they took the most amazing care of her.
Jan handled each stage of her decline with such amazing grace and positivity. Her life line to the world was her voice activated computer which was then followed up by a mouse that she could use with her mouth when she lost her voice strength.
People were always in awe of how much determination and patience she had to work on her computer. She wrote many stories, poems and emails on a daily basis and even at one point was doing the monthly newsletter for the nursing home.
Her face would light up with a smile when anybody would visit, even if it was when she was in the hospital. She always found a way to see the positive in every situation, so inspirational.
Jan had an amazing impact on every person she came in contact with up to the very end where she was able to accept and embrace her next journey.
Jan is survived by her mother, sister, two daughters and son-in-law's and three grandchildren.