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Deceased Name: JANET B. DAVIS Janet B. Davis of Duluth, 89, died on Saturday, March 24, after a brief illness.

Janet B. Davis of Duluth, 89, died on Saturday, March 24, after a brief illness.

The daughter of Ida and Sam Berman, and sister to George, Ruth and Harriet, Janet was born Oct. 22, 1922 in Duluth and lived here all her life.

She was a graduate of Central High School in 1940 and earned her social work degree from U. of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She married her classmate, whom she met at 14, Bud (Yale B.) Davis, who predeceased her in 1987 after 44 years of marriage. In their early years, she was a proud military wife who took care of their two children, Bob and Jody, as Bud served in the Marines. Returning to Duluth, she raised the family while being involved as a volunteer in the community and was supportive of Bud's work at West End Iron and Metal where she eventually joined him in the family business.

Janet loved the city of Duluth and became involved in a variety of activities that contributed to the vibrancy of the city. Her service included, among others, leading Miller Dwan Hospital Foundation, serving as an ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the Public Library Foundation, served on the Board of Parks and Recreation , was involved in Altrusa, was President of Rotary, chosen as the Duluth Woman of the Year (1972) and was an active volunteer at Temple Israel. She loved helping prepare for the many reunions hosted in Duluth.

A woman who was as comfortable working in the gift shop as running the Foundation of the Hospital, or being a part of the highway clean up crew as serving on the Board, Janet was a friend to people of all ages, who exhibited kindness in her no nonsense way.

She is survived by her children, Bob (and Rachel) Davis, Jody Huber (and Jim Coleman); and grandchildren Benjamin, Noah (and Hilary), Hannah (and Aaron), Jacob (and Ahuva) and Joey, and great grandchildren Nesanel, Refael, Tzivia, Jordan and Jack and sisters Ruth Horwitz and Harriette (and Jack) Bober and numerous nieces and nephews.

She will be remembered for her energy and wonderful character by those who knew her and each year in the giving of the Janet B. Davis Outstanding Volunteer Award of Miller Dwan Foundation. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be the Parkinson's Support Group of Miller Dwan or a charity of your choice.

SERVICE: 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in Temple Israel, burial to follow at Tifereth Israel Cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, 727-3555.

Duluth News Tribune (MN)

Date: March 27, 2012

Deceased Name: Jan Davis , longtime Duluth volunteer, dies Longtime Duluth volunteer Jan Davis died Saturday in Duluth at age 89 after suffering from heart problems in recent months.

It wasn't easy keeping up with Jan Davis.

She always had places to be, people to see, things to do — and more often than not, that involved volunteering to make Duluth, where she lived her entire life, a better place.

"She would always be running about 10 paces ahead of you," said longtime friend Patty Shogren. "Nobody could keep up with her. … That's how she was getting so much done."

That energy carried through until her final days. Janet B. Davis — Jan to her friends — died Saturday in Duluth at age 89 after suffering from heart problems in recent months.

"She had an indomitable, independent spirit, but mostly she just had a big heart for helping other people, particularly those who were less fortunate," said Phil Strom, president of Rotary Club 25 of Duluth, of which Davis was a longtime member.

Davis joined Rotary Club 25 in 1988, the year after women first were allowed to become members, and became a fixture at club meetings and in club initiatives. In 1998-99, she was the local group's first female president.

"She was a tireless volunteer" and one of the club's "most beloved members," said Shogren, the club's executive director.

Davis also was very active with Miller-Dwan Medical Center, now part of Essentia Health, and the Miller-Dwan Foundation. She served as board chairwoman of the medical center and of the foundation, and president of the medical center auxiliary in addition to volunteering her time at the hospital for decades.

"She was a dynamo, a force of nature," said Miller-Dwan Foundation President Pat Burns. "She was a positive person with such great community spirit. … (And) she inspired other people, so she really was a double blessing."

Davis also volunteered with the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce; served on the city Parks and Recreation and Duluth Library Foundation boards; was on the Duluth Hall of Fame selection committee; and was active at Temple Israel, among many other community activities. Family and friends contacted Sunday found it somewhat difficult to recall every group and organization that benefited from Davis' efforts.

A common thread through all of her work was a devotion to improving Duluth.

"I've never seen anyone so devoted to a town as my mom," recalled Davis' daughter, Jody Huber of St. Paul. "She loved every inch of it. She was so proud of it. It went with her wherever she went."

Davis was born in Duluth on Oct. 22, 1922, and attended Duluth Central High School; she later was very active in planning class reunions. She also attended Duluth State Teachers College and the University of Minnesota.

Davis married Yale Davis — better known as Bud — and they ran West End Iron and Metal. After Bud died in the mid-1980s, Jan also worked for several years as a manager at Voyageur Lakewalk Inn.

But volunteering in the community she loved was her calling.

"She wasn't a prima donna — she wanted to do the nuts and bolts and get things done," Huber said of her mom. "She felt it was important for everyone to volunteer."

In addition to her daughter, Davis is survived by a son, Robert, of Houston; five grandchildren; and five — soon to be six — great-grandchildren.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Temple Israel, 1602 East Second Street in Duluth.

Duluth News Tribune (MN)

Date: March 26, 2012

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