Jane “Janie Kesler” was Taylor University’s first lady during her husband Jay’s presidency (1985-2000). Jay worked in the spotlight, but Janie’s support impacted lives on and off campus.
During their first year of marriage, Jay and Janie started their leadership journey at Taylor as Swallow Robin’s residence hall directors. The Keslers later moved on to other work, including Youth for Christ.
“Janie was always such a caring part of Taylor,” said Michael Hammond, former Taylor University provost and current president of Gordon College. “She never sought the spotlight, but supported Jay with their family and in ministry and leadership at Youth for Christ and Taylor University.”
Hammond said Janie made people feel loved just by spending time with them. He and his wife will always be inspired by her example, he said.
Phil Collins, professor of christian ministries and executive director of scripture engagement and one of Janie’s sons-in-law, said Taylor University awarded her with an honorary doctorate in 2022 for all the service she did for Taylor and in her support for Jay.
“Janie Kesler was a Taylor legend,” President Michael Lindsey said. “She was humble, godly, kind, and gracious. She was someone whose quiet strength and deep faith left a lasting imprint on all who knew her, and the Kesler legacy at Taylor will leave a mark forever on our university. It was our honor to confer on her an honorary doctorate at the end of my first year at Taylor, which was a small gesture of gratitude for a lifetime of her faithful service. She and Jay have been wonderful partners and friends in the gospel, offering encouragement, hospitality, and deep wisdom over many decades. She will be missed but never forgotten as a key member of the extended Taylor family.”
Taylor never forgot Jay and Janie, said Tom Jones, professor of history emeritus.
Wherever Jay went, so went Janie. They came back to Taylor as president and first lady, but they were more than that to the students.
“She and Jay were like the mom and dad for many students across the campus," Jones said, “And they brought a lot of life, and they brought a lot of fun to campus, and they were two people of great substance and deep faith.”
Janie rollerbladed around campus, even into her sixties. Tom Green, director of development and Kesler’s son-in-law, said there is photographic evidence of her rollerblading around campus.
Even apart from the student lives, Jay and Janie touched faculty and future presidents at Taylor.
Paul “Lowell” Haines (75’), former Taylor University president, said Janie was someone who he always felt was in his corner. He said she was supportive and prayerful.
“She was forced into being (in the spotlight) because her husband was president at two major organizations,” Haines said. “But, she served and was loved by many because of all that she did outside of the spotlight. She was just a wonderful person.”
One way she supported Taylor was attending events. Another, was simply in her support for Jay.
She and Jay also hosted students at their house.
“Janie became accustomed to students stopping by the president’s house at all sorts of hours,” Jones said. “And whether it was the Christmas season parties with Jay and Janie in pajamas, and Jay the Christmas story, (or) whatever, Jenny was always there and very closely connected to students.”
Janie loved hosting, Green said. She brought the family together during holidays, Phil Collins said.
Green compared her Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to Norman Rockwell paintings. Phil’s mother, Marilyn Collins, said Janie made a mean pumpkin pie.
“Everything was as it should be,” Tom Green, director of development and Kesler’s son-in-law, said. “And she did it because that's how she loved us. She showed us she loved us by all the wonderful things that she made and all the beauty she had around her home.”
When Green and Phil met her for the first time, it was on different occasions, but they were welcomed the same: warmly and completely.
She and Green both played the trumpet, and Janie told her daughter that she “liked that trumpet player,” Green said. She and Phil would swap book recommendations. Phil said she thought television was stupid and books were amazing.
Janie really wanted to know about people, Phil said.
“She was always very interested in asking questions of people,” Phil said. “(She wanted) to know about their lives. She would really listen. You knew she was interested and caring. (She was) a very gentle spirit.”
She continued to love people and joined the “Morning Glories,” a group of women who gather to talk, laugh and pray. They support each other in similar stages of life.
You can still find them by The Jumping Bean on Mondays before chapel.
Marilyn was in the Morning Glories with Janie, and she said they never had an agenda, but they would stop and pray when they needed to. She said they laughed loudly, and the morning glories are probably her closest friends.
Marilyn developed a friendship with Janie through Phil, and they eventually lived close enough together to deepen their relationship.
“I cherish those times during COVID when you didn't go out to eat,” Marilyn said. “She would pick me up and we would go someplace, perhaps Culvers, and we (would) go through the drive in, get our food, and then we would just sit in the car and talk for a couple hours. And that was delightful.”
Marilyn said Janie had a gift for welcoming people, and her hospitality stood out.
Jones said she was perhaps the original First Lady to have such warm hospitality all across campus at Taylor University, and her legacy was carried on to the present First Lady, Rebecca Lindsay.
“There are people that we lose every day that are wonderful people,” Haines said. “Janie was exceptional, and she was a sweet heart, a sweet soul. And I know she's with God today, and she's probably doing just fine, but she will be missed down here for sure.”
