Obituary: Stefan Jan Lane
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Obituary: Stefan Jan Lane

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Stefan Jan Lane. 

Stefan Jan Lane
Stefan Jan Lane

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Stefan Jan Lane. Stefan fought a brave battle with a glioblastoma, and unfortunately cancer won. On Dec. 26, 2024, Stefan passed away at home surrounded by his wife and children. Stefan was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to anyone he met. One of Stefan’s sayings was, “I may not know you, but you are no stranger.”

Stefan was born on Nov. 5, 1949, in the Bronx, N.Y. He was the first born of Melvin and Irene Lane, and had four additional siblings, Robin, Randy, Bonnie, and Shari.

Stefan moved from New York to Georgia in the early 1980s and taught in Augusta. He soon moved to Atlanta and met his wife, Janet. Very soon after, he was the proud father of Zachary, Sam, Shari, and Meredith. Stefan’s greatest love was his family. He was very proud of the accomplishments of his children who continue his path today to helping others.

Stefan earned a master’s degree in construction trades, cooperative education, and manufacturing. He taught in elementary, middle, high school, and community college in construction, electrical, and plumbing skills. Stefan enjoyed sharing his knowledge and love of tools to anyone who would listen. When first meeting his future daughter-in-law, Ilana, he proudly took her into his garage/shop to show her his collection of tools.

Stefan decided to take on new challenges in construction, and remodeled homes, hotels, and restaurants. Stefan was responsible for remodeling the hotels and restaurants across from Turner Field. After completing these challenges, he returned to teaching and retired in 2013. After retirement, Stefan continued to use his construction skills and restored the atzei chayim for the rescued Holocaust Torah at Congregation Beth Shalom. He was very careful to keep the integrity of the original style and preserved the name of the man who made the wooden shafts for the Torah scrolls.

Stefan had many varied interests including music. Stefan played the bass guitar in several groups throughout his lifetime. He also enjoyed building his own basses. While Michael, his future son-in-law, was bringing Shari back from their first date, Stefan was also returning home from playing a gig. Stefan had no problem asking Michael to bring his bass amp into the house. Of course, Michael kindly agreed while Shari stood in disbelief at her father’s request.

Stefan also loved building computers, airplanes, history, reading, playing Scrabble, and politics. He loved going to the movies and eating popcorn and drinking Diet Coke. Daniel, his son-in-law, and Stefan shared an interest in science fiction movies, “Star Wars” and Marvel. Stefan and Daniel loved watching these movies together.

In 2017, Stefan became a stroke survivor. Even after this southpaw lost movement in his left hand and leg, he continued with a new hobby of refurbishing old prewar Lionel trains. He wanted to build a train layout for his grandchildren to enjoy.

Stefan had a love for Judaism and Israel and visited Israel for the first time for his daughter’s wedding in 2023. Despite many health challenges, Stefan made sure to be there, and Daniel made sure Stefan was able to pray at the Kotel.

Family and friends were very important to Stefan. After his diagnosis, Stefan ate ice cream every night and was told how much he was loved. Stefan is survived by his wife, Janet, children, Zachary and Ilana Lane, Sam Lane, Shari and Michael Gower, and Meredith and Daniel Dzhanov, grandchildren, Eli, Ezra, Dahlia, and Ari, and a host of beloved family and friends. Stefan will be missed by all, but his legacy of strength, humor, generosity, and enduring love for family and friends will carry his memory forward with pride.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Stroke Association or to the American Cancer Society and Brain Cancer Research, or Congregation Beth Shalom. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999

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