“The Wreckage has been found; debris is widespread. I am so sorry, but there are no survivors.” Jan’s world was instantly shattered as she heard a voice over the phone saying her husband and son had tragically lost their lives in that plane crash.
Within the pages of Harvest of Joy, you’ll find Jan’s extraordinary journey of heartbreak, restoration, and hope. This book also echoes a modern-day “Book of Job” story. Despite its profound themes, the book’s warmth and hopefulness will inspire readers for generations.
It was November 21, 1993. Jan was staying at one of her favorite places, Capri by the Sea in Pacific Beach, excitedly looking forward to the family’s Thanksgiving gathering.
Jan’s husband, Verne, and their son, Gary, had spent a wonderful weekend with her, but they needed to return briefly to Arizona to take care of their cotton crops.
Gary and Verne were experienced pilots, logging hundreds of hours in their Cessna 172 cockpit; one of many shared father-son passions. Later that evening, as usual, Jan called Verne to say goodnight; there was no response. Thirty minutes later she tried again, still no answer. Her concern sparked a series of frantic calls.
Around midnight, the phone rang; Jan’s world stood still as the voice on the other end said, “The plane vanished from radar at 6:35 pm, and at that same time we lost radio contact. We will call back when we know more.” The authorities issued an emergency request; US Customs, Navy pilots, and sheriff’s officers responded to the call.
Jan didn't hear anything more until the next morning when she received that shattering telephone call that her husband and son had perished. The news was beyond bearable. It’s impossible to imagine the grief of losing both the love of your life and beloved son. Some believed it unimaginable that Jan could keep going with the immense pain and loss she faced.
There were so many unanswered questions; what would happen to the farm? Verne managed all the daily operations. He was a brilliant aerospace engineer who transitioned to farming after the Apollo Space Project he was involved in lost its funding.
Still, Jan was dealt an additional blow. She was on the verge of losing everything, facing a complex quagmire of debt (over a million dollars), legal battles, and insurance nightmares. Jan’s life, once so blessed and comfortable, turned dark with despair. But God, in His providential mercy, had already prepared godly men and women to come alongside her.
After the memorial service, professionals from different fields gathered around a conference table to discuss Jan’s dire financial situation. After considering all the facts, they agreed there was no salvageable way out of her situation. Because of their love for Jan’s family, they vowed to help. At this point, no one knew how long it would take, nor did they foresee the unbelievable obstacles ahead. Still, each one agreed to spearhead a certain area of her affairs and see it through. Pastor Mark Fuller and other men from Crossroads were part of that group. They became her team.
Another divine encounter with God happened the Sunday following the memorial. Jan found a long-stemmed red rose, wrapped in cellophane, tied with a ribbon and bow on her doorstep. Each Sunday for several months, she found a rose. With each rose, God ingrained a message in her heart: “Jan, you can do this”!
One Sunday, Jan happened to see a young man (a friend of her son’s) run across her front lawn. He admitted to delivering the roses and shared with her the incredible reason why. At Gary's memorial service, he had given his life over to Jesus and wanted to honor the influence her son had on his life with the roses. Receiving the roses for several months was truly a blessing, but hearing about a changed life was the greatest gift of all!
As a widow, Jan experienced many days of deep loneliness, but from the start she vowed to seal her heart to God. Jan faithfully kept that promise until God began to reveal His plans for a new season of her life.
Sixteen years had passed since God had guided a young man to bring her roses, when a man named Dick Ketter arrived at her front door. He brought with him a single long-stemmed rose wrapped in cellophane, tied with a ribbon and a bow. The rose literally took Jan’s breath away. Dick knew nothing about the mysterious roses, but God did. He intended to bring a dozen red roses, but Dick felt God's nudge to bring only one instead.
Jan nearly pushed Dick out the door because she couldn’t wait to talk with God about the rose.
When he left, she closed the door and fell face down in prayer. God, what is up with this rose?
God’s reply was the same as it had been sixteen years earlier: “Jan, you can do this.” From that day on, God began to open her heart to a beautiful love story. Jan and Dick Ketter were married the next year. They have a wonderful life, sharing their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As Jan puts it, “We are truly living a harvest of joy.”
Jan’s extraordinary life has inspired countless individuals, including myself. Her unwavering belief in a God who never abandons us, no matter the circumstances, serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of His message to all of us:
“You can do this!”
