Jane Ellen Hall

Battle Creek - Jane Ellen (Johnson) Hall, 91, was born on March 30, 1927 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and died on June 13, 2018 at home in Battle Creek, Michigan, following a battle with cancer.

She was the daughter of Mark A. and Verna C. (Hensley) Johnson of Cadillac, and formerly of Mount Pleasant, Ionia, West Branch and Marion. Jane attended the Cadillac public schools, graduating in 1945. Following high school, she attended Michigan State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the winter of 1950. In June 28, 1952 in Cadillac, Jane married MSC graduate student Garth O. Hall, son of Omer F. and Susan M. (Bobo) Hall of Marion. Jane and Garth enjoyed 62 years of loving marriage until Garth’s death in 2014. During their marriage, the Halls made their home in Waterloo, IA; Cedar Falls, IA; Marion, MI; Brookfield, WI and then permanently in New Berlin, WI. In 2011, they moved to Battle Creek, MI to be closer to family.

Jane taught music and high school sophomore English in Manton and Cadillac, as well as elementary music three Eastside Traverse City grade schools. Jane and Garth welcomed three children, Bob, born in Lansing, MI in 1952, Mary, born in Waterloo, IA in 1955 and Tom, born in Waukesha, WI in 1964. As her children grew, Jane directed youth choirs, was a substitute teacher and was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. A prolific writer, Jane was a published writer of over 125 articles, poems and short stories which appeared in newspapers, magazines and books. She was the Waukesha County Historical Society’s researcher, and writer for their publication Landmark Magazine. During this time, she won a National Award for historical writing. She was state president of National League of Penwomen; Life member of the Wisconsin State Fellowship of Poets; and member of the Waukesha Writer’s Guild. Another of Jane’s life-long passions was genealogy. She has researched all branches of the couples’ families, notably finding Charlemagne. She was a Life Member of clan Johnstone in America. Despite her many offices and accolades, Jane considered her most prestigious title to be Mom.

Growing up with three brothers, Jane learned to hold her own from the start. Jane was drawn to the arts, she wrote fiction, non-fiction, poetry, played piano, introduced her children to arts. An avid reader, she would devour hundreds of mysteries and thrillers, which meshed with her interest for the mysteries in genealogy. She traced the family out to sixth cousins, and all the way back to a Roman soldier around 50 B.C.E. She loved puzzles of all kinds -- solved 1000-piece puzzles every week, did a daily cryptogram and online puzzle, and had a game closet full of puzzles and spatial-thinking toys for her kids, fostering their creativity and allowing them to try things and learn. A lover of pen, paper, and words, when asked what a word meant, she insisted one "look it up" on the dictionary on the dictionary stand -- an altar of her respect for language. In her 80s, she took up a keen interest in philosophy. Every day was encouraged to be fun, every conversation with her was peppered with hilarity. Her love of music translated to Bob and Mary, her love of art shone in Mary as well, and love of 3D puzzles and games turned Tom into a game designer. All three were subject to hugs, back rubs, and careful, thoughtful listening, follower by supportive, meaningful responses. She was a compassionate and caring woman, only intolerant of injustice. Her laugh would light up a room, and everyone's faces.

Jane was a devoted wife, a kind and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother - a true, inspiring spirit to those who knew her well. A brilliant journalist, avid lover of words, music, laughter, Jane will be greatly missed by all.

Jane is survived by her three children: Robert D. (Beverly) Hall of Waupaca, WI; Mary J. (Curtis) Mills of Battle Creek, MI; and Thomas A. (Terri) Hall of Concord, CA; seven grandchildren: Ryan (Erika) Hall of Hortonville, WI; Krystle (Travis) Baumgarten of Friendship, WI; Aaron (Stefanie) Mills of Mt. Pleasant; Bethany (Travis) Huffman and David (Rachel) Mills of Battle Creek, MI; Christopher Constant of Weaverville, CA and Mindy Constant of Seattle, WA; and ten great-grandchildren: Lleyton Hall, Isabella and Sofia Mills, Layla, Hayley and Luke Huffman, and Thea, Evie and David Asher Mills; Emma Baumgarten; and lastly, her beloved dog, Maggie. She is also survived by three brothers, James (late, Dorothy) Johnson of Grand Ledge, MI, Robert (Kathleen) Johnson of Canby, Oregon, and William (Joyce) Johnson of Marion, MI, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A time of visitation and gathering will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Fosnaught-Holdship Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Marion Historical Society or the Marion Food Pantry.
 

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