Jan Melinda Whitcomb, 58

Jan Melinda Whitcomb, a lifetime resident of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away peacefully at the age of 58 in her home during the early hours of Aug. 17, 2025. She passed surrounded by her loved ones and her dogs. She never complained, even at the end and always had a beautiful smile on her face until her last breath.

Jan is survived by Pat Whitcomb and their four children: Philip (Sabrina), Kassie, Kattie (Justin) and Matthew, grandchildren: Emerie, Harlow and Kaiden, mother: Jeanne Dreisbach, and two sisters: Mary Monroe and Jane Soltys. She is predeceased by her father, Philip Dreisbach.

Jan loved many things in life in addition to her family. One of them is her teaching career, official and otherwise! She was a teacher for nearly 30 years and carried on her passion for kids and teaching even after she was forced into early retirement due to her worsening MS. Even after retirement, she never let her MS define her. She worked hard to volunteer at schools, fought for handicapped accessible beach access, and devoted herself to her faith in the Lord.

As time went on, Jan’s health issues were ongoing, and she fought multiple cancers at various times. During her final years, she continued to spend all her time being the best mother and nana possible, attending countless events and accomplishing even more crafts.

She was sunshine on the rainiest of days, and her smile could light up even the darkest of rooms. While we are confident that she is now walking, dancing, and swimming in the presence of the Lord, our lives will never be the same.

As her family continues to try to navigate this devastating loss, please be on the lookout for a Facebook event for a service later this year.

Jan was indeed the coolest mom.

    Whitcomb