 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
This page is dedicated to an incredible man, who passed away long before his time. His name was Jan Terje Roka, and he was my husband.
Jan and I had quite a life together. We started out as wonderful friends online, and it progressed to an incredible love in life.
I moved to Norway on October 28, 1996, and Jan being the man he was, proposed to me 5 hours after I got off the plane. It was the mixing of two very different cultures and lifestyles, but our love for eachother made all that not so important.
We were married on January 17, 1997, amidst the Local and National news. We were the first internet romance to ever get married in Norway, so we were very big news. We made the front page of 2 national papers, and 3 local papers, along with being on national television. Who knew we were so important!? |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
This is the cover of the Harstad Tidende - the newspaper of the town we lived in, Harstad, Norway. Wasn't he a cutie? And of course, they had to put the computer in the picture!
Jan Terje was a very proud man. His family, his career and his friends were the most important things in his life. His family began when he and I were married, and grew with the birth of our daughter Rebecca. He was such a proud Papa! He spoiled her absolutely rotten!! She was as much an Internet Baby as we were an Internet Couple. On the way to the hospital, we had to stop by Jan Terje's work and log on to the computer to let everyone know I was in labor. Pretty pathetic at the time, but hilarious to look back on!
As for his friends, there weren't many CLOSE friends, but those he had, they were life-long, incredibly special people. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Speaking of good friends, the wonderful person in the picture with us is Tor Arne, Jan's best man in our wedding, and his best friend. Tor Arne and Jan Terje were best friends for several years before I ever came into the picture. He and Jan had enormous respect and caring for eachother. They stood by eachother during some very rough times, which just made their friendship that much stronger.
Since Jan's passing, Tor Arne and I have kept in close touch. It's so important to us to keep that friendship alive and strong, both for our own well-being, but also for Rebecca. When she gets older, the three of us will sit down and reminisce about her father, telling her stories, jokes, and everything she didn't already know about him. I can't imagine my life, nor Jan's without Tor Arne in it. |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan's family was extremely important to him. Aside from Rebecca and I, he had a huge family that surrounded him with love. His mother Anita and her husband Elling, his brother Andre, sister Ellen, father Josef and his wife Siri, Grandmother Alice, Aunt Line & her husband Terje, Aunt Keth & her husband Olav, along with a very large extended family. They were all spread out in Norway, but they always kept in close touch. He counted his family among one of his many blessings in life.
This picture is of Andre and Rebecca when Anita and Andre came to the US. Although, I think Andre had WAY too much fun here!. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
This is Becca with her Grandpa Elling and Auntie Ellen. Becca and I went back to Norway in November of 1998, and you can see they had a great time. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ellen was the lucky girl chosen to present the Crown Prince Of Norway with flowers at Narvik's Town Birthday. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tor Arne and Jan together again. Two incrediblY special people. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is Jan's mother Anita and his sister Ellen, again in traditional Norwegian dresses called Bunads. These are only worn on very special occasions such as Norways National Day, the 17th of May, or at weddings. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
These are Jan's three sisters on his fathers side. This is the traditional Norwegian dress in Southern Norway. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Jan's sister Ellen again. She gets cuter each year. Looks like the tooth fairy has paid her a visit a lot! She looks rather sneaky, doesn't she? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan and I on the 17th of May. Jan was so incredibly proud of his heritage. I don't know of another man so proud to be Norsk. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan will never be forgotten. He's got a very large, loving family spread out over two continents. His headstone lies in Norway, his home, his life and his precious Country. His ashes are spread in the Pacific Ocean to be close to Rebecca and I. The ocean, the only thing more powerful than Jan's love for his family and friends. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Throughout his life, Jan accomplished so much. Success in his career, lifelong friendships, a proud countryman of Norway, and a family that loved him so. He left us too young, but will always be watching and protecting us from above.
IN MEMORY OF
JAN TERJE ROKA
FEB 18, 1974 - AUG 11, 1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOME |
|