Jann Hines

JANN LOUISE HINES July 14, 1953- March 15, 2023

Peacefully, in the early dawn light of March 15, 2023, Jann Louise Hines was called to her eternal home in Heaven. After a greater than 30-year courageous battle with MS, her Father in Heaven has carried her home to wholeness and Perfect healing. She joins her mother Carolyn (Kinsman) Burson and father Richard “Dick” Burson as well as her younger brother Wade Burson. Jann is survived by her husband of 38 years, Ronald, and their children; Ron, Kris, Marie, Rachel, and Ruth. Her nine grandchildren, Alison, Shane, Ruben, Escher, Calista, Casimir, Arabella, Addison, and Kate all carry on Jann’s colorful, vibrant legacy and appreciation for the beauty of this life.

Born July 14, 1953 in Rochester, NY, Jann was still quite young when her family relocated to Gaylord, Michigan. Jann grew up alongside her 4 siblings, Richard, Alec, Sarah, and Wade, at the memorable family farmhouse on Goslow Rd, where she lived until her graduation from Gaylord High School. As a child Jann was known for her love of animals, music and art. Painting, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and later banjo and mountain dulcimer- Jann was artistic and colorful in Everything she did. Following high school, Jann attended Lake Superior University where she studied fine arts. With her memorably bright smile and infectious laugh, Jann made friends easily. She was a hard worker- from working for the Department of Transportation to the CAD drafting table, Jann embraced challenges with a smile.

Jann is remembered by her family and friends as a gentle, free-spirited, lover of the Earth, who was most at home in a garden. Her immensely “green” thumb– an inherited trait from the Burson Family of gardeners, that she shared with her parents– eventually evolved from hobby (hundreds of houseplants) to lifestyle to career after she completed her Master’s Gardener Certificate, then happily abandoned her office drafting job to bravely open her own small business in landscape beautification. She went on to get her degree from Michigan State University in Plant Sciences and started Green Thumb Landscaping. Leelanau County, Michigan is forever more beautiful for the hands of Jann Hines and her natural ability to bring incredible, eternal beauty to the canvas of human life by using the colorful palette of flowers- Jann spoke colors and she spoke flowers! While she may not be here physically anymore, her lasting legacy of gardens and natural beauty will carry on forevermore.

Friends were very important to Jann and some of her closest friends were also part of her church family. Jann attended Feast of Victory Lutheran Church for more than 25 years, and was an active volunteer and Sunday School teacher, regularly serving Communion and caring for children in the nursery. Jann had a heart for service and was a trained Stephens Minister for many years, always selflessly giving of her time and talents to help others in need. Her heart was always dedicated to Jesus and she lived a life well reflected in His image and likeness. Jann really enjoyed her regular Friday evening outing to Applebee’s with Ron to visit daughter Ruth and her friends.

Jann’s appreciated relations were many and far-reaching: From her beloved church family at Feast of Victory, to all the many friends and customers that came about as a result of her landscape business, she was well known and respected for her artistic abilities in Leelanau County and further.

Jann loved to read and was a true bookworm since childhood. When not reading she loved cross country skiing, sewing, painting, gardening, baking, walking in the woods, swimming, ice skating or hanging out with her cats, of which there have been many, too many to mention, all of which she has hopefully been happily reunited with: Sam and Sid, Spike, Pumpkin, TippyToes, Thatch, Wolf (and dogs a many too– Bear, Oscar, Gladys, Happy and Sunshine, Zoe, and Kody).

Nothing, not time, space, or death– can take away the memories, the scent, or flavor! of Jann’s Homemade Famous Blueberry Buckle on a Saturday morning, or her chocolate chip cookies. Sitting on her porch under the big maple tree, hearing her laughter– her lightning-fast wit and incredible sense of humor… Jann’s life was so full of light, which she did not keep to herself, but shared so freely; a woman of faith, we can rest assured that she is Up There in her Best garden (no need for night spotlights now, as Ron used to have to setup in order to support her inability to come inside and stop gardening despite night), now she is arranging God’s colors on a canvas bigger than the cosmos, cross country skiing and ice skating again- swimming, doing all her crazy Yoga poses she used to do every day, and walking– walking-walking again… probably walking good old Bear Dog again…

We remember her Amazing quilts, curtains, and anything else she could figure out to make with a sewing machine (and her homemade clothing- dresses and other “creative” things only her siblings can probably recall from her equally creative and liberal time in the 1970s). And we remember her “mom’s” Burson potato salad, her love for anything angels or Christmas, and her Extensive yet not-quite-organized stamp/fabric/curtain/wrapping paper/book, antique book/pillow/colored glass/ basket/antique plate/ antique garden implement/ not-antique garden implement/ fiestaware/and Bundt pan collections (see additional page for further list of collections, lol)… her finely-timed quotes from “The Princess Bride,” “Crocodile Dundee,” or “Harold and Maude,” or just her humming along to Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, or Fleetwood Mac…or her antics while watching movies- constantly trying to warn the characters, or her “license to pilot” (pile-it!). Baking, gardening, painting, loving unconditionally, listening non judgmentally, giving a ride to church, or offering to show you “the curtains” as a way to prolong loved ones from leaving at the end of a well-enjoyed family time together– Jann was a great example of a life well-lived by a woman well-loved. She traveled the world as far as Peru. She made amazing art with her hands, and showed us all how to live, forgive, and cherish. Jann– Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Friend and Woman of God, Sister in Christ, We Love You and Will Miss You. Until We Meet Again…

**There will be a Celebration of Life on July 15, 2023 at the Hines Home**

2-4pm will be a time to welcome all those who have known and loved Jann to gather and share memories while sharing a light meal.

After 4pm will be reserved, respectfully, for Jann’s family to spend together in her memory.

Colton Dixon’s “Not Goodbye”

Here's to the ones who have gone up ahead

You light up the stars in the night

Here's to the ones we will never forget

We'll meet again when it's time

It's see you again, not goodbye

It's see you again, not goodbye

It's see you again, not goodbye

Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky”

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

That's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)

When I die and they lay me to rest

I'm gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself, you know it's a must

Gotta have a friend in Jesus

So you know that when you die

He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

Whoa, he'll recommend you to the spirit in the sky

That's where you're gonna go when you die (when you die)

When you die, and they lay you to rest

You're gonna go to the place that's the best