With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Dr. Jane Baker Koons on December 15, 2025. She was 76 years old.

Jane and her husband Doug met while attending St. Olaf College. After retiring from their respective careers of distinction, they felt called to use their skills and talents for the greater good. Jane and Doug were inspired to support low-resource global churches by teaching, encouraging, and loving their members.

In 2007, they became long-term Mission Education volunteers in India. They founded the Library Program, which established 95 libraries and served 40,000+ students, their families, and their villages.

From 2009 to 2019, Jane served as an educational consultant to LPGM partner schools in India, launching the English+ Program which continues to thrive today. She trained teachers, inspired students, and improved the lives and livelihoods of residents of the Lebanon Home for Destitute Women.

Jane and Doug were instrumental in building connections and raising funds for the benefit of students in Tamil Nadu, India.

Gordon Olson, co-founder of LPGM, shares, "We have so many fond memories of Jane and Doug, and now they are both gone from us. They were master encouragers, and we treasure the experiences we had with them as friends, both here in Minnesota and in India. Jane was so generous in every way and a true servant of Christ. She was a bright light...May God bless her memory."

Sundar Gandhi, Arcot Lutheran Church Projects, writes, "Our deepest condolences... on behalf of English+ staff and all teachers and heads of our schools. All her initiatives still benefit thousands of children. The library, library legs, English+, and so on... Both Doug and Jane extended two years of valuable service at Lebanon campus for the welfare of women there. Thanks to LPGM for identifying such wonderful people - full of strong spirit and energy."

Jane is preceded in death by her husband, Doug, and survived by her daughter, Jenny, extended family, and countless friends.