Janell Inez Kildow

Janell Inez McLaughlin was born in Texarkana, Arkansas on December 30, 1942, to Gerald Macy McLaughlin and Julia Inez McLaughlin.

Her family later moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where her younger brother Gary was born.

Growing up on Colorado Springs’ West side, she attended Whitter Elementary School, West Junior High School, and Colorado Springs High School, graduating in the first class of Roy J. Wasson High School in 1960. She was always an excellent student, eager to learn.

Despite resistance from her parents, she attended Pueblo Junior College where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Sociology and Psychology in 1962.

She met and later married the love of her life Air Force veteran Jeffrey Kildow on August 7, 1966. They moved to Los Angeles so he could attend college. After his graduation in 1971, the couple moved to Huntsville Alabama where they joyfully welcomed their son Aaron Howard Kildow. 

Returning to Colorado, they delightedly welcomed daughter Jennifer Robyn Kildow. She spent several years as a devoted stay-at-home mother before attending Arapahoe Community College, she became a Certified Medical Assistant. She worked in a number of doctor’s offices in Littleton, working both front office and back office positions. Later, she became a medical coding expert and was a ‘patient advocate’ long before the term came into use.

She often said she loved being a mom, but being a grandmother to five girls and one boy brought her great joy.

She was an active and caring member of her church, Foothills Bible Church, serving others by team teaching with her husband in a Young Marrieds class called Cord of Three Strands, and attending Women’s Bible Study, MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers), and Elder’s Wives.

Alzheimer’s Disease descended in 2018 and she was lovingly cared for by her husband. Just a few days short of their 58th wedding anniversary, she passed away on July 31, 2024 in the presence of her husband, her son, and a granddaughter.

She leaves a lasting legacy of love, caring, and perseverance.