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

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

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

She was the marketing director of the Winona (MN) Daily news and was adjunct professor of marketing at Winona State University, The College of St. Teresa and St. Mary’s College, all in Winona. Mrs. Semple was the Minnesota vice president of the International Newspaper Marketing Executives Association.

Previous to that she had been on the sales staff of the Racine Journal-Times, the equestrian magazine, Equine Events, and was an on-screen  personality at a local TV station interviewing celebrities such as civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.

After Mrs. Semple moved to Southport, NC, she joined Flotilla 10-05 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. She 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.

While she was in Southport,  Mrs. Semple represented Sacred Heart Catholic Church at the Ministerial Association and was elected its moderator. She was also  chair of the Martin Luther King Day Celebration, and chair of the Crop Walk among other civic activities.

Mrs. Semple retired to Advance in 2012. She helped with the efforts to secure the new Davie County High School. Then she was active for years when St. Francis Assisi Church sponsored the Shamrock Run, handling press relations and soliciting sponsors and donors.

Mrs. Semple was active in events sponsored by the church,  Assembly 12610 of the Knights of Columbus and the Advance Fire Department.

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, Ore.; her grandchildren, Xandre Hernandez and  Miguel Hernandez and his partner, Kenzie Corse, of Portland; a foster son, Collins Lester of Billings, Mont.; 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, pastor of St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church will officiate at her Requiem Mass at in the church 10 a.m. Friday, April 26. A reception will follow in the church hall. Interment in Salisbury National Cemetery will be private.

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