Obituary
Janet Lynn Delauter (Kissel), 74, of Leesburg, Florida, passed away on September 4, 2025. Born July 16, 1951, in Evansville, Indiana. Jan proudly served in the United States Navy for more than 20 years, beginning her career in 1970. After completing recruit training in Bainbridge, Maryland, and Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes, Illinois, she was assigned to Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Florida, where she served as a ward corpsman. In 1973 she attended the Naval Medical Training Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, specializing in electroencephalography (EEG), and soon after continued her work at Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Illinois. From 1977 to 1980, Jan was stationed at Naval Hospital Subic Bay in the Republic of the Philippines, where she said her “life truly began” when she adopted her daughter, Heather. She later completed assignments at Naval Hospital Long Beach, California, and Naval Hospital Guam before returning to Long Beach, where she finished out her career. Rising through every enlisted rank, she achieved the distinction of Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMCS). Over the course of her service, Jan was recognized with multiple Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Navy Achievement Medal.
After retiring from the Navy, Jan pursued degrees in Human Services and Social Work from Florida State University, where she was inducted into the Garnet Key Honor Society, and became a certified Guardian ad Litem.
Jan and her husband Jack shared nearly a decade of adventure traveling the country together in their RV. Along the way they discovered breathtaking parts of America, formed lifelong friendships, and cherished time spent simply enjoying one another’s company.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jerome and Aileen (Delfosse) Kissel, her godfather Richard Kissel and her husband, Jack Delauter.
She is survived by her daughter Heather (Gardner) Tootle, son-in-law Jayson Tootle and granddaughter Zoey Tootle, godmother Ethel (Pease) Kissel, brother Chris (Judy Weinzapfel Kissel), sisters Angie Kissel Weightman and Carla Kissel, and their families and many beloved cousins.
She is also survived by her brother-in-law Murray Delauter (Carol Reynolds), stepchildren Dede McDermott, Scott Delauter, Shawn Heise, bonus stepchildren Brenda Manos, Valinda Cahoon and their families.
A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Baldwin Brothers – Tavares, 1350 E. Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, Florida. Interment with Honor Guard Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. And most deeply by her daughter, Heather, who she truly gave a beautiful life to, SYOTOS.
Service
Visitation
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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