Jana Starr, 30

Jana L. (Day) Starr, age  30 of Marion, Ind., and a former Sturgis resident, went to be with her Lord and Savior Monday afternoon June 8, 2009, at the Marion General Hospital.She was born Aug. 28, 1978, in Bluffton, Ind. a daughter of Scott and Pandy (Squires) Day.Jana had resided in Marion since 1996. Prior to moving to Marion she had resided in Sturgis, graduating from Sturgis High School with the class of 1996.On May 23, 2009, she married Raphael Starr at an outdoor service in Marion.She was a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University receiving her bachelor’s degree in Christian education and her master’s degree in higher education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. She was nearing the completion of her doctorate degree at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.Jana was currently employed as the Director of Student Retention for the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind. Prior to joining St. Francis she had been employed by Indiana Wesleyan University as a resident hall director and director of student life.She actively attended the College Wesleyan Church and the Mississinewa Valley Community Band where she played the oboe. Jana enjoyed working in the yard and had a true love for animals. Jana had a real passion for bring people to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. She never hesitated in sharing her love for Jesus and took great pride in being a Christian. You never had to wonder how Jana felt about something because she would let you know if it was either right or wrong she was not one to believe in the “gray area”.She is survived by her loving husband ,Raphael; her parents, Scott and Pandy Day of Sturgis; a sister, Jill (Dustin) Pagels of Sturgis; maternal grandmother, Mary Cavanaugh of Sturgis; paternal grandmother Betty Day of Bluffton, Ind.; two nephews, Nathan and Matthew Pagels of Sturgis; mother- and father-in-law, Edmund and Barbara Starr of Columbia, S.C.; and three sisters-in-law, Katonya, Kimberly and Krystal, all of Columbia, S.C.The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the College Wesleyan Church, 200 East 38th St., Marion, Ind., where services will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Thad Spring will officiate.Mrs. Starr will come home to Sturgis, where the family will receive friends from noon-2 p.m. Monday at the Sturgis Wesleyan Church, 907 N. Nottawa St., Sturgis, where funeral services celebrating the life of Jana (Day) Starr will begin at 2 p.m. Longtime friend of Jana’s, Mr. Nathan Barnell, will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Jana’s memory to consider the Jana Day Starr Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o: Sturgis Foundation, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091. Envelopes are available at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, which is handling the local arrangements.