What does it feel like to build a family beside a man whose career kept pushing through racial barriers while illness later brought everything to a painful stop? Jan Zdelar lived that contrast for decades, sharing a long, deeply devoted marriage with Jack Soo, the Japanese-American actor born Goro Suzuki.
Behind the celebrity spotlight lies a story of quiet devotion, racial resilience, and enduring heartland roots. From her early years in Youngstown, Ohio, to marriage, motherhood, high-profile Hollywood years, personal loss, and a final chapter in Los Angeles County, California, Jan remained the steady anchor of a pioneering family.
Personal Bio Details: Jan Zdelar
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Jean Ann “Jan” Zdelar Soo |
| Date of Birth | January 15, 1924 |
| Birthplace | Youngstown, Ohio (United States) |
| Parents | Florian Zdelar & Mary Vnucec Zdelar |
| Ancestry Roots | Croatian Immigrant Lineage |
| Husband | Jack Soo (Born Goro Suzuki; m. 1945 – d. January 11, 1979) |
| Children | Jayne Soo (Carelly), Richard Soo (d. before 2004), James Soo |
| Professions | Former Model & Homemaker |
| Date of Death | February 3, 2004 (Aged 80) |
| Final Resting Place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills (Eternal Love section) |
| Specific Plot Reference | Map #E19, Lot 3980, Ground Interment Space 4 |
Youngstown Roots and Croatian-American Family Background
Jan was born into the Zdelar family in Youngstown, Ohio, on January 15, 1924. During this era, the industrial city was defined by bustling steel mills, rail yards, and vibrant European immigrant neighborhoods. Her parents were Florian Zdelar and Mary Zdelar, who carried a rich Croatian heritage that gave Jan a proud cultural background.
Her obituary also names siblings who were part of that early Ohio chapter, including her brother Stephen Zdelar and sister Mary Zdelar Kolar. Growing up in a hardworking Midwestern household instilled in Jan an unbroken strength and personal dignity that guided her throughout her life.
Meeting Jack Soo in Cleveland and Their 1945 Marriage
Jan’s life changed forever when she met Jack Soo (then known as Goro Suzuki) in Cleveland, Ohio. At the time, Jack was rebuilding his life after the wartime internment of Japanese Americans. Friends described their connection as immediate and profound, leading to their marriage in 1945.
Choosing an interracial marriage in post-World War II America required remarkable courage, as anti-Japanese prejudice remained intense across the country. Jan and Jack built a home anchored by love, respect, and mutual loyalty that remained steadfast until his passing in 1979.
Modeling Background and Raising Jayne, Richard, and James Soo
Before family life became her primary focus, Jan worked as a professional model—a detail that aligned with the poised, graceful image attached to her later years. Once married, she stepped away from modeling to focus on motherhood and building a warm domestic sanctuary.
The couple welcomed three children: Jayne Soo, Richard Soo, and James Soo. Jan spent the busiest years of Jack’s career raising them while he traveled for nightclub shows, Broadway, and film sets. Her obituary also names grandchildren Tamara Viggiano, Samuel J. Carelly Jr., and Billie Soo, along with great-grandchildren who remained her pride.
Standing Beside Jack Soo: From Flower Drum Song to Barney Miller
Jack’s career rose sharply in 1958 when he joined the Broadway production of Flower Drum Song, later starring as Sammy Fong in the 1961 film adaptation. Those years brought major changes to the Soo household as Jack became a nationally recognized performer.
His most famous television triumph arrived later as Detective Nick Yemana on the hit sitcom Barney Miller. Throughout those demanding years, Jan remained the steadfast anchor behind his success, offering a quiet, supportive sanctuary away from camera lenses.
Jack Soo’s Esophageal Cancer and January 1979 Death
The final years of their marriage changed dramatically when Jack Soo was diagnosed with esophageal cancer during the fourth season of Barney Miller. Despite returning briefly for the fifth season, his condition worsened as the illness progressed.
Jack passed away on January 11, 1979, at the age of sixty-one at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, leaving Jan widowed after thirty-four years of marriage. The cast of Barney Miller later honored him with a memorable farewell tribute episode, raising their coffee cups to their beloved co-star.
Jan Zdelar’s Later Years, Family Loss, and 2004 Passing
Following Jack’s death, Jan chose to live privately away from public attention, devoting her remaining decades to her children and grandchildren. Over those years, she also endured the heartbreaking loss of her son, Richard Soo, who passed away before her.
Jan passed away peacefully on February 3, 2004, in Los Angeles County, California, at the age of eighty. Her obituary named her surviving daughter Jayne Carelly, son James Soo, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her companion Manuel Hernandez.
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and the Eternal Love Resting Place
Following her passing, Jan was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), one of Southern California’s most famous resting places for entertainment figures. Her exact burial location is recorded in the Eternal Love section, specifically Map #E19, Lot 3980, Ground Interment Space 4.
Her funeral services were held at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Church of the Hills, on February 10, 2004. These final recorded details bring a graceful close to her biography, forever reuniting her memory with the Southern California hills where her family life flourished.
Final Thoughts
Jan Zdelar’s life was never built around a desire for fame, yet her quiet story remains deeply linked with one of television’s most cherished pioneers. From her Ohio roots and brave 1945 post-war marriage to raising her three children away from the glare of Hollywood, she served as the unbroken strength of her household beside Jack Soo.
Remembered through her children, her grandchildren, and her peaceful resting place at Forest Lawn, Jan continues to be honored as a woman of profound devotion, personal grace, and timeless heartland values.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jan Zdelar
Who was Jan Zdelar?
Jan Zdelar (born Jean Ann Zdelar) was a former model, homemaker, and the wife of pioneer Japanese-American actor Jack Soo (born Goro Suzuki).
When and where was Jan Zdelar born?
She was born on January 15, 1924, in Youngstown, Ohio, to parents Florian Zdelar and Mary Zdelar.
When did Jan Zdelar marry Jack Soo?
Jan married Jack Soo in 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio. Their marriage lasted for thirty-four years until his death in 1979.
How many children did Jan Zdelar and Jack Soo have?
They had three children together: Jayne Soo (Carelly), Richard Soo, and James Soo.
Was Jan Zdelar a professional model?
Yes, published accounts confirm Jan Zdelar worked as a model prior to her marriage before dedicating her life to her family.
What caused the death of Jan Zdelar’s husband, Jack Soo?
Jack Soo passed away from esophageal cancer on January 11, 1979, at age sixty-one at the UCLA Medical Center.
When did Jan Zdelar pass away?
Jan Zdelar died on February 3, 2004, at the age of eighty in Los Angeles County, California.
Where is Jan Zdelar buried?
She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in the Eternal Love section (Map #E19, Lot 3980, Space 4).
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