LANEXA — Janice M. “Jan” Sjostrom-Crawford, 69, went to be with her Lord and Savior Tuesday, April 13, 2021, after a courageous, three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born Sept. 15, 1951, in Rockford, Illinois, to John Robert and Elsie (Knudson) Sjostrom. She was raised in Rockford and graduated from Rockford Guildford High School in June 1969. She attended Valparaiso University in Indiana, graduating in May 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She later received a Master of Arts Degree from Central Michigan University in Business Management.
She became a Quality Assurance Staff Development intern with the Defense Supply Agency in July 1973. Her career took her to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a year and a half, and then she moved to Richmond to work for the Defense General Supply Center. In April 1986, Jan married the love of her life, Bradley W. Crawford, who was her high school sweetheart. Brad moved to Virginia in November 1985 in order to prepare for the upcoming wedding.
After marriage, Jan continued her career, and after 34 years, retired from the Defense Supply Center Richmond in August 2007 as Technical/Quality Programs and Systems Division chief. She followed her federal career by becoming a project manager with the U.S. Information Technologies Corporation (USIT) in Chantilly. She managed several I.T. developers on contracts with the Defense Logistics Agency. She retired from USIT in January 2018.
Jan was an active member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians for 15 years and was very active in her Church Choir, Bach Choir, Handbell Choir and Brass Ensemble at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Richmond for many years. Then, she was active in her new church, King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, where Brad and Jan became members after moving to Lanexa in December 2010. She was also an active member of the Williamsburg Women’s Chorus.
She leaves to mourn her passing her beloved husband and friend, Brad Crawford of Lanexa; their son, Joel Crawford, and his children, Natalie, Jacob and Kaleb Crawford of Richmond; and their daughter, Aimee Cima (J.P.), and their children, Celeste, Isabella and Isaac Cima, missionaries in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Also mourning her loss is her sister, Lorie North (Michael) of Charleston, South Carolina; nephews, Justin and Michael North of Charleston; niece, Dr. Sarah North Lorton of Land of Lakes, Florida; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Also mourning her loss is her aunt, Marion Wicklund of Rockford, Illinois; and several cousins.
Services will take place at a later date.
Share online condolences with the family at Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Service.
