Jan Zigich

Jan M. Zigich, 69, of Duluth, died peacefully Monday, May 17 ^th, at Essentia Miller - Dwan after a brief illness, with her family by her side.  Jan was born Jan. 23, 1952, in Duluth, to Jack and Patricia Priley.  She graduated from Duluth East, UWS, and received her masters from the College of St. Scholastica.  She met Ross Litman in 1987, and they were married on Dec. 31, 1996.

She worked many years in advertising and marketing with the Duluth News Tribune, followed by business consulting with the University of Minnesota Center for Economic Development.

Jan’s passion in life were her PBGVs, (Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen). She founded Mirepoix Kennel in 1995, and throughout the years raised and showed some of the finest dogs of this breed in the U.S., and in Europe and Asia as well. At the time of her death she was Vice President of the national breed club, the PBGVCA, and was known and appreciated for her willingness to mentor others in the breed, for her outstanding ethics, and for her unending will to breed healthy, happy hounds.

Jan enjoyed her home on the lake and the family cabin in Canada. She loved to travel and loved fine cooking. She served on the board of Lake Superior Zoo and was a former member of the Duluth Curling Club. She was a two - time state mixed champion. Her only love greater than that for her dogs was her love for her family (including many nieces and nephews) and her many friends in the dog world.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Patricia, and her sons’ father, Richard “Tony” Zigich.

She is survived by her husband, Ross Litman; sons, Matthew (Valerie) Zigich and their children, Patrick, Zoey and Aiden, and Benjamin (Leslie) Zigich and their children, Elliot and Allison; her siblings, Billie Priley, Leslie (Lee) Youngblom, Jack (Kim) Priley, Jowain (Larry) Wallin and Jim (Jody) Priley.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 2 ^nd from 5-7pm in the Dougherty Funeral Home.  Visitation will continue Thursday, June 3rd from 12 noon to the 1pm service at Waters of Life Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6221 Rice Lake Rd., Duluth, MN.

Memorials are preferred and may be directed to The Health & Rescue Foundation of The PBGVCA at pbgv.org or to Animal Allies, 4006 Airport Rd., Duluth, MN  55811.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2 ^nd St. Duluth, MN,