Obituary of Janis Lee Rose

Janis Lee Rose passed away at home on June 10, 2021, of age-related natural causes with her caregivers, Silvia Sanchez, Laura Tirado, son David Grimes and Colleen with her. She was 93 years old. Janis was born the only daughter of Joe and Florence Bourdet on June 22, 1927, in the Southside District just outside of Hollister. She was raised on a farm and went to elementary school there along with her elder brothers, Gene and Leonard. When she was a teenager, her father took a job with Standard Oil moving them to Napa where she attended and graduated high school. Always active in athletics, she was a cheerleader and popular with lots of friends. She met and married her first husband there and gave birth to her first son, Gary Landgrebe. When that marriage ended, she returned to Hollister and went to work in a bank. She eventually married again and moved with her husband to the McCreery Ranch above Tres Pino’s where he was the foreman. Her second son, David Grimes, was born while they were living there. New opportunities soon developed which moved them to Watsonville for about 6 years. During that time Janis worked her way into management at Bank of America. In 1962 the family moved back to Hollister one again where they thrived and Janis continued working at the bank. Eventually that marriage broke down and she divorced. In 1965 she fell for the “love of her life” in the person of George Rose Sr., a well-known horseman and cowboy who trained quarter horses, a skill for which he was recognized internationally. Janis and George quickly married and moved to a ranch they purchased outside of Shoshone, Idaho. After a few years of missing home, the returned to Hollister. They lived first on Mansfield Road and then moved lastly to their final home together on the Hawkins Ranch. While maintaining their residence on the Hawkins Ranch, Janis and George also managed the Spanish Cattle Company located on a ranch in Panoche; which was owned by the Italian Count Claude Masi. Every summer for years his son, Filippo, would come and live with Janis and George to learn the ranching trade and horse showmanship. Janis was like a mother to Filippo. George and Janis were well known in the ranching and horse circles and were very involved in the San Benito County Saddle House Association, the Cattleman’s Association and the California Reined Cow Horse Association. They were both very hard workers but really enjoyed food times and entertaining as all who knew them will attest. When George eventually was incapacitated by terminal illness, Janis became his sole and devoted caregiver for the many years until his death in 2003. Janis spent all of her remaining years living in a home that her son David and his wife Colleen had built next door to theirs on the Grimes Ranch outside of Hollister. Janis’ home was like a Cowboy Hall of Fame in which she surrounded herself with memorabilia of a life well spent. She had many good years for which she was always appreciative. And she loved watching sports of almost any kind until the end. She is survived by her brother, Len Bourdet (Becky)’ her sons David Grimes (Colleen) and Gary Landgrebe (Seraphina). Plus, on her late husband George’s side, Diane Rodrigues, George Rose Jr., Gerry Rose (Debbie); Grandchildren include Tammy and Ken Rose, Debbie Rodrigues Kreig (Alex) and Mike Rodrigues, Hilary Gurule (Jason) and Max Cawley (Alicyn), Junauro Landgrebe (Rene), Oradona Landgrebe and numerous great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Friday, July 16th at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Ken Laverone presiding. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A reception will follow at Paine's Restaurant after the inurnment at Calvary Cemetery.