Janet Thorpe Kottke's Obituary
On October 26, 2021 Janet Thorpe Kottke passed away in her home on Maui surrounded by loved ones. Jan was born September 24, 1945 in Long Beach, CA. As the daughter of a Naval officer, she and her older brother Bill moved frequently throughout their childhood. Jan graduated from Punahou high school on Oahu in 1963 and from Stanford University in 1967. In 1969 she met and married Bob Kottke and the two have built a beautiful life and a loving family through 52 years of marriage.
Together Jan and Bob raised three sons and built the Manor schools in Southeast Virginia. Jan’s purpose in life was to teach, and over nearly four decades her schools taught more than 5,000 young minds how to read with the books she wrote and published herself. Over time, her students grew up and sent their own children to her schools to ensure they also fell in love with learning. Part of her legacy is this enduring institution that nurtures children and prepares them for the world.
Jan loved her golden retrievers and spoiled them unabashedly. She was an absolute snob about beaches and forced her children and ten grandchildren to experience some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Her love of cooking brought her family together for too many fabulous meals to count.
Jan was a force of nature. She set an expectation for her sons to learn, to live, and to leave the world a better place. As she has. We cherish the beautiful memories we have of her and will miss her dearly.
Jan is survived by her loving husband Robert Arthur Kottke Jr; three children Karl William (Tina) Kottke, Peter Arthur (Maggie) Kottke, Ben Thorpe Kottke; and her ten grandchildren BaeJin Alexander Kottke, BaeYoung Robert Kottke, Jackson Reese Kottke, Calvin DePaulo Kottke, Violet Amanda Kottke, Pearl Wilson Kottke, Maximillian Hengelbrok Kottke, Skylar Marie Kottke, Makena Belle Kottke, and Grayson Kai Kottke. She is preceded in death by her parents, William Lupo Thorpe Jr. and Kathleen Glancy Thorpe and her brother William Lupo Thorpe III.
Jan’s family will hold a small private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charitable organization of your choice or to the Children’s Literacy Initiative (live-childrens-literacy-initiative.pantheonsite.io), a charity dedicated to early childhood reading. Furthermore, given the number of lives she touched, the family has made a memorial website available to collect stories, pictures, and reflections (www.kudoboard.com/boards/zyScbzvL).
What’s your fondest memory of Janet?
What’s a lesson you learned from Janet?
Share a story where Janet's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Janet you’ll never forget.
How did Janet make you smile?