Long-time Garden Home History Project board member, Jan Vern Fredrickson, passed away on December 31st, 2025. He was 71 years old.

Jan entered this world on December 12th, 1954, to parents Vernon Eldur and Jeanette Marguerite (Jager) Fredrickson. He grew up in Garden Home, attending Garden Home Grade School, Whitford Middle, and Beaverton High.

Jan worked in Nevada for a while after high school, but returned to Portland, bought a home on Borthwick Avenue, and got a job at OHSU where he worked until his retirement. His last job was as their food service supervisor. After the deaths of his parents, Jan moved back into the home he grew up in on 78th Avenue here in Garden Home.

Jan loved Dachshunds and always had them as pets. He also took in a Yorkie that friends of his were unable to keep. Jan was the best pet parent a dog could ever have. Jan loved to travel. He and his husband, Kevin Mistler, would take trips every year to visit with family and enjoy our national parks and other attractions from coast to coast.

Jan was dedicated to preserving the history of our community and all our members will feel his loss. Our hearts go out to Kevin, who also sits on our board.

In addition to his husband, Jan Fredrickson is survived by his cousins Cheryl Van Beveren, and her brother Kent Fredrickson.