Jeannie Ware

1943 – 2023

Jeannie Ware, of Portland, Oregon passed on to glory Friday July 21st, 2023. She was 79 years old.

She was born in Ogden, Utah to Donald Richard van Rossem and Ruth Edith van Rossem (née Hughes). After graduating from Campbell High School, Campbell, California in 1961, Jeannie enlisted in the United States Air Force on January 14, 1963. She was assigned to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas in May of 1963, where she met Doug Smith at Wilford Hall Hospital.

Douglas M. Smith and Jeannie van Rossem were married on September 11, 1965(-1985), in Saratoga, California, where they continued to live until moving to Portland, Oregon in the early 1970’s. Jeannie was in many activities while her children were in school, including coaching soccer, cub scouts, and martial arts. She also had many talents. She loved to sew, play piano and tennis, dance, and participate in anything fitness related.

In 1989, she earned a degree in nursing from Portland Community College and went on to work in the medical field as a registered nurse. Her primary locations of employment were local hospitals and clinics, but also included travel nursing in various locations. She especially enjoyed nursing in Alaska and Hawaii. Also, during 1989, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education: Teachers’ Education from Portland State University and taught aerobics, jazzercise, and other fitness classes as a hobby. She trained competitively in body building and won the title of Ms. Portland in 1984. She also ran in the Hood to Coast Event many years in a row. While involved in the fitness industry, she met Ernest (Ernie) Ware and they were married in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1996. They spent many years traveling and enjoying music festivals togethers with their dogs, Bit, Buddy, and Buster.

Jeannie is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard (Dickie) van Rossem, and her husband Ernest (Ernie) Ware. Survivors include brother Tom van Rossem and wife, Gerie Bunch, nieces, Jessica and Katrina; brother Steve van Rossem and wife, Deb Jolda, niece Sadie; daughter Jennifer Smith, grandchildren Camille, Ezra, and Seth; son Aaron Smith and wife, Theresa Smith, grandchildren, Adin, Isaac, and Eli.

Celebration of Life Service and Event will be held at a future date and location.”