Janet Ann (Barr) Christiansen died quietly after a brief illness on January 19, 2023, at the age of 86. She was born and raised in Port Orchard and lived most of her life in Renton.
Janet loved to travel, taking regular trips with her family to Mount Rainier, the Oregon Coast and much of the Northwest. In 1995 she started a 20-year journey that took her around the world to every continent, including Antarctica, culminating in a trip to Venice when she was 80.
Janet walked at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at the south end of Lake Washington almost every morning for nearly 30 years, watching the birds and wildlife as the seasons changed and keeping an eye on the Olympics. During that time, she made friends with many. Over the years Janet volunteered for a variety of local King County Library (KCLS) locations and she particularly cherished her volunteer work and friends at the Renton History Museum.
She is preceded in death by her husband Don Christiansen (1995), her sister Liz Kendall (2021) and brother Charles R. Barr III (2022). She is survived by daughters Lynn and Diane, and son Steven.
Janet loved cats and had a genuine sense of humor. She loved reading and talking about books and was curious about many subjects. She was happiest on her morning walks and sharing coffee or lunch with her many friends. Her invariably positive outlook and cheerful disposition will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to King County Library System, the Renton History Museum, or the charitable organization of your choice.