Jan Elizabeth Saunchegrow

Jan Elizabeth Saunchegrow was born September 6, 1956, to Henry and Marilyn Richter (Wood) in Pasadena, California. She passed away on September 20, 2025, after a 5-month battle with lung cancer. She’s survived by her husband of over 43 years, Fred Saunchegrow, her brother Steve, sister Gail (Lloyd) and father, Henry. Also, Fred’s siblings Don, Denise, and Herb (Deb), who all loved her like a sister.

When Jan was in grade school, the family attended a Methodist church. It wasn’t until her mom started taking her to Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, pastored by Ray Ortlund Sr., that she heard the Gospel and soon gave her life to Christ.

Her parents divorced when Jan was in Jr. High, and her dad sent her to a boarding school in San Diego for the 8th grade. She returned home the next year but as soon as she graduated from High School, she was kicked out of the house and had to learn to get by on her own. Jan wrote in a picture book about her mom, “There was much that I missed out on growing up. I didn’t get the support that I really needed to help me have a sense of self-worth and security…There is much of life that doesn’t make sense or seem fair. God didn’t promise that He would grant that to us. He did promise to always be there and help us through tough times.”

Jan was very involved in church youth groups in High School and College. For a while in college she worked for World Vision. Jan received her B.A. from California State University, Long Beach with an emphasis on Child Development in 1980. Years later she also got an A.A. in Accounting.

Jan and Fred met in 1980 while she was working as a receptionist at Christian radio station, KFRN in Long Beach. They had differing accounts of the day they first met. According to Jan, Fred walked into the station and said, “Hi, I’m Fred, one of the on-air personalities. I’m sure you’ve probably heard of me.” Fred doesn’t remember that at all. They got married March 6, 1982.

Over the years Jan worked in accounting for places like Cal State Long Beach, the City of San Marcos (CA), and Tri-City Hospital in Oceanside CA. With Fred’s radio jobs they moved around, living in Long Beach, Montgomery and Huntsville, Alabama, San Diego, and Waterloo, IA since 2003. They never had any children but did have a cocker spaniel for 10 years.

Jan was quiet, thoughtful, and intelligent. She was a kind, generous, loving, and funny woman who felt invisible most of her life. Jan overcame many challenges and was working through others until the end. Her life revolved around her husband and her faith in Christ. Often her spiritual insights were inspiring and profound.

Jan taught herself to be a great cook. She also loved to sing and was part of the worship team at several churches. Psalm 30 was one of her favorite chapters in the Bible and verse 5 was especially meaningful to Jan, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” She also really liked Lamentations 3:22-25, “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion says my soul, therefore I have hope in Him.” (NASV)

Jan was not invisible. She will be forever loved and missed by Fred and everyone who knew her well.