Jan Brinkman

Jan is married to Roger with whom she shares a deep love for music, traveling, good food and cooking (Vegetarian for Jan) and hiking. But their favorite pastime is spending time with their two beautiful granddaughters Annabelle and Zia, born to their son Jacob and wife Mindy.

Jan and Roger also had a daughter, Abby, who tragically passed away in a scuba diving accident while completing a medical rotation at Hillside Health Care International in 2005. Hillside provides free medical care to the people of southern Belize. Abby was a fourth-year medical student from Indiana University School of Medicine. Riley Hospital for Children awarded her an honorary pediatric residency as it was her lifelong dream to become a pediatrician and to devote a part of each year to mission work in underserved areas of the world.

In Abby's memory, Jan, Roger, and their son Jacob alongside the support of many in the Columbus' community raised the funds needed to build Abby's House to serve as a dormitory for volunteers helping out at the health center. Abby's House opened its doors in 2008. When in full use, Abby's House will house 16 care workers.