Jane Guarascio Semple

Mrs. Jane Guarascio Semple, 81, of Advance, died on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at Trinity Elms Assisted Living in Clemmons where she had resided for the past year.

Born to Helen and Louis Guarascio in Racine, WI, on April 15, 1943, Jane graduated from Washington Park High School there and attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside majoring in marketing.

In addition to being an enthusiastically devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother, Jane was prominent professionally, civically, and politically everywhere she lived, between Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, New York and North Carolina. 

In Racine (WI), she served as PTA president, worked for Cline Realty, and sold advertising and was an on-air personality for radio station WRKR and local cable Channel 8, including hosting the TV program “Auction Man,” emceeing Racine’s annual July 4^th parade, and interviewing celebrities such as civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. Jane also was on the sales staff of the Racine Journal Times and Equine Events.

In Winona (MN), Jane was the marketing director of the Winona Daily News, an adjunct professor of marketing at Winona State University, The College of St. Teresa and St. Mary’s College, executive director of the YWCA and the Winona Chapter of the Red Cross, and director of public relations at The College of St. Teresa. Jane was the Minnesota vice president of the International Newspaper Marketing Executives Association.

In Galena (IL), Jane was partner, Innisfree Company, leading marketing and sales seminars for newspapers throughout the US and Canada. She was a staff member of the IL Press Association, creating a 2 column by 2 inch advertising format adopted by many weekly newspapers, was elected to the Guilford Township board, elected and re-elected to the board of the Galena Territory Homeowners Association, was a member of the Galena Territory Fire Department auxiliary and volunteer at Galena Area Ambulance, taught catechism at St. Michael’s Catholic Church and chaperoned parish teenagers on trips to Paris and Rome, and founded and managed Winona Knits retail store in Galena.

After “retiring” to Southport (NC), Jane joined Flotilla 10-05 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and enjoyed serving Thanksgiving feasts to Coast Guardsmen and their families. Jane was decorated by the Coast Guard with its Commandant’s Letter of Commendation and a Meritorious Team Citation for her efforts in the aftermath of a fire that destroyed Station Oak Island. Jane also represented Sacred Heart Catholic Church at the Ministerial Association and was elected its moderator. She chaired Southport’s Martin Luther King Day Celebration and the Crop Walk, and was a member of Interchurch Fellowship, among other civic activities. 

Jane then relocated to Canton (NY) to be near her beloved grandchildren, where she was appointed to the board of Canton Township, serving on its planning board of appeals. Jane raised more than $1M in grants for Grasse River Heritage Foundation, was instrumental in creating a new riverfront park, and served as executive director of Canton’s annual Remington Arts Festival. Jane also volunteered at St. Mary’s Catholic Church there.

Jane retired to Advance (NC) in 2012, where she helped with the efforts to secure the new Davie County High School and for many years handled press relations and solicited sponsors and donors for the Shamrock Run sponsored by St. Francis of Assisi Church. Jane was an active volunteer for events at St. Francis, Assembly 12610 of the Knights of Columbus, and the Advance Fire Department.

As impressive are Jane’s professional accomplishments and volunteer service, it is her love and devotion to her husband, her children, grandchildren, family, and many friends for which we are most grateful. She loved with ferocity, never met a stranger, was adventurous and brave, hard-working, a fabulously talented cook and gardener, and if you needed her, she’d saddle the horses and ride at dawn. She will be sorely missed and always cherished.

Survivors include her husband of 42 years, Ron Semple of Advance; her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Mark Meier of Advance; her daughter, Traci Fordham and her spouse Dale Miguel of Portland, OR; her grandchildren, Xandre Hernandez and Miguel Hernandez and his partner, Kenzie Corse, of Portland, as well as a foster son Collins Lester of Billings, MT.

She is also survived by her sisters, Helen Cline, Joan Illmann, Mary Lou Sorensen and her husband, Louis, all of Wisconsin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

Father Eric Kowalski, family friend and pastor of St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church in Mocksville, NC will officiate at her Requiem Mass in the church, 10 a.m. Friday, April 26. A reception hosted by the family will follow in the church hall. Jane’s later interment in Salisbury National Cemetery will be private.

Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel in Advance, NC (336) 940-5555 is handling the funeral arrangements. 

The family is eternally grateful for the loving care she received from the staff of Trinity Elms Assisted Living in Clemmons.