Obituary of Jan Georg Henriksen

Jan Georg Henriksen, age 91, passed away at the Lyons VA Medical Center. Born and raised in Stavanger, Norway, Jan attended school there through his elementary years before beginning a life of adventure at sea. At just 15 years old, he started working aboard ships, and for nearly ten years traveled the world, visiting every continent except Antarctica. During this time, he proudly served in the Norwegian Merchant Marines.

In the late 1950s, Jan immigrated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, New York, near his beloved sister. He served honorably in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959. Following his discharge, Jan became a proud naturalized citizen of the United States on March 20, 1962.

On June 25, 1960, Jan married the love of his life, Barbara Helmke Henriksen, with whom he shared many devoted years together. Jan spent much of his working life on the water, laboring for decades as a deckhand on tugboats operating out of New York Harbor. Known for his strong work ethic and reliability, he later worked as a groundskeeper at McCutchen Nursing Home, a position he took great pride in.

Outside of work, Jan found joy in gardening, photography, and cooking, the latter being a talent he was especially known for. His quiet dedication, adventurous spirit, and love for simple pleasures defined his life.

Jan is survived by his sons, Paul Henriksen and Erik Henriksen, and his niece, Arlene Unneland. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara Helmke Henriksen; his sister, Liv Unneland; and his brothers, Rolf Henriksen, Tor Henriksen, and Svein Henriksen.

Cremation will be held privately, with a memorial service to be announced at a later date.