Hans Berend Janssen

OLYMPIA, Wash — Hans Janssen M.D., 96, passed away Friday, June 29, 2018, in Olympia, Wash., after a brief illness.He was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany, enjoying summers at the Baltic Sea. He was drafted into World War II and served from 1941 until being released from a POW camp in 1946. He then graduated from medical school and played violin in the Hamburg Symphony.In the mid-1950s, he immigrated to the U.S., arriving by oceanliner, and completed his medical residency in Canton, Ohio. There Hans met Yvette Haffner, who had immigrated from Alsace, France. After a courtship of a few weeks, they were married and enjoyed 61 years together. They moved to Sandusky in 1962, where they raised their four children.During his Sandusky years, Hans worked as an anesthesiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital (now Firelands Medical Center). 'Papa Bear' was instrumental in starting the Emergency Department there and during his years of practice saved countless lives.In his spare time, he enjoyed flying his Piper Twin Comanche and served as navigator on a memorable ferryboat trip from Sandusky to Florida via the open Atlantic Ocean.After retirement, Hans and Yvette moved to Sun City West, Ariz., where they enjoyed many years walking the White Tank Mountains and traveling throughout North America, Europe, and Africa.Hans was preceded in death by his younger brother, Klaus; father, Johannes; mother, Felicitas (Loeblein); and wife, Yvette, who died April 3.He is survived by his children, Claus (Teresa) of Port Townsend, Wash.; Astrid and Ingrid (Ken), both of Olympia; Eric of New York City; and 12 grandchildren, Emilie, Olivia, Isabella, Kristine, Nicolaus, Lukas, Britta, Taeus, Sophia, Sabine, Greta, and Marco.His keen intellect and colorful German/English expressions will be missed by all who knew and loved him.