Ellen “Janice” Koss Powers

About Janice

Ellen “Janice” Koss Powers of Yorba Linda, California passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2021.

Janice was born November 23, 1937 in Grand Marais to Grace (Linnell) and Nassau Koss.

She lived in Hovland and at Egro Bay and attended several grade schools in Cook County. She graduated from Cook County High School in 1955.

Janice decided she wanted to be a nurse after losing her mother to cancer when she was nine so she began her dream at St. Scholastic College and graduated with her Masters Degree in nursing in 1960.

She was employed at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth until 1962, when she and fellow nursing classmates went to California. Janice began a nursing job in Long Beach, California where she met her future husband, Cyril Powers.

After a brief trip home to be married in October of 1963, they returned to make a home in California. Cy worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft as an electronics engineer and after their children began school, Janice returned to nursing and established a career at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, where she was in charge of the Coronary Care Unit.

The family enjoyed camping trips back to see family in Minnesota and spent many weekends in the desert four-wheeling. Janice loved to crochet and make baby quilts and afghans for her fellow employees and continued after her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father, and sister “Jo” Zimmerman.

She is survived by son Charles “Chuck” (Julie) of Desert Palms, California, daughter Christine (Rob) MacMeekin of Placentia, California, granddaughter Caitlin MacMeekin-Hoerman, great-grandson Mason Hoerman of Charlottesville,Virginia, brother Clayton (Nancy) Koss of Duluth numerous nieces, nephews, their families and many Koss and Linnell cousins.