Jan Laurel Cobble, DDS died peacefully on Monday, September 25, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sonny G. and Jeanette (Perrault) Cobble; his older sister, Rosemary Kirby, EDD; and older brother, Sonny P. Cobble, MD. He is survived by his wife, Susie Cobble; his children, Kristin (David Russell) Cobble and Dane (Karen) Cobble and their children, Kaelan Cobble Spann, Forrest and Zoe Cobble; as well as his brother-in-law, Forrest (Maria) Faulconer, DDS; his nephews, Rex (Jill) Coad, Rusty (Julie) Coad and Ryan Faulconer; and his nieces, Kim Cobble, Stephanie (Paul Wheeler) Cobble, MD, and Kristen (Randy) Russell.

He was born on July 12, 1941, in Lyons, Kansas, to Sonny G. and Jeanette (Perrault) Cobble, joining Sonny P. and Rosemary, who were 2 and 10 years older. At age 3, they moved to Winfield, Kansas, where in high school, he and his tennis doubles partner won state two years in a row; quarterbacked the football team to two state victories; played basketball; played drums in the orchestra; and was senior class president.

After graduating from Winfield High School, he attended Kansas University on a tennis scholarship and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. It was through Forrest Faulconer, his best friend at the Beta house that he met his future wife, Susie, Forrest's sister. They fell in love and married right before he graduated from UMKC Dental School. From there, they moved to Wichita, Kansas, where Kristin was born. Two weeks later, they moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Jan completed six weeks of officer training for the Army before being posted at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, where Dane was born.

Next, they decided to have an adventure and moved to the Boston area, where they drove into the city nearly every weekend, sharing season tickets to the Boston Symphony, and taking advantage of many cultural events. After Kristin came home from preschool insisting that a sofa was pronounced "sofer," they decided to return to the heartland. Jan also missed quail hunting with his dad and wanted to be back on the land.

For their return to the mid-west, they chose Tulsa and opened a dental practice in February, 1973. Jan practiced dentistry until March 2020.

Three words that point to Jan's essence: Joyful, independent and intense. A lover of learning, a pursuer of mastery in many domains (dentistry, tennis, golf, landscaping and quail hunting), a voracious reader, a sesquipedalian. He loved beauty - creating beautiful landscapes, smiles, homes and offices. He also loved sports - playing competitive tennis until he switched to golf in his 50's, all the while cheering on the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team. He also loved quail hunting, never missing an opening day, and spending most weekends during hunting season in Kansas. From age 8, it was his favorite way to spend time with his father. He loved walking the land of the farm, with views across the fields that stretched for miles. Later in life he built a beautiful cabin there where Jan, Susie and their guests spent quality time, forming lasting memories.

He was ahead of his time, choosing his profession, in part, so he could play tennis every day. He also loved the artistic and technical challenge of creating a beautiful functional smile. He and his wife, Susie, were partners in enhancing lives through transforming people's smiles. An avid learner and early adopter of innovative technologies, they went to continuing education courses several times a year. They also focused on creating an amazing culture that both clients and employees thrived in.

Jan Cobble was happy. Truly happy. Deeply happy. And playful. He often had a twinkle in his eye. He frequently interjected a timely, wry, sharp observation that would bring smiles to everyone. (and when his humor was off color, Susie playfully scolded him.) He also loved to pun-especially spontaneous punning bouts with his children and grandchildren. Life with Jan was fun!

Life with Jan was also intellectually and philosophically rewarding. He read voraciously and wrote notes, observations and questions in the margins throughout his books, underlining interesting passages to share with his family. Dinner table conversations were always stimulating. His reading included dense subjects such as quantum physics, health, history, anthropology, philosophy and economics as well as lighter subjects such as sports and dog stories. The latter probably made his eyes well up more than anything-though a soaring aria by Pavaratti could also move him to tears. Looking back on his book shelf and reflecting on his lifelong connection to birds, trees and the land, we see he was a mystic at heart.

He was also an independent thinker, living life by his own principled rules.

He left us too soon. But we are grateful he got to end his life on a high note. As Susie said, he did his death as he did life. He did it his way. He decided he was done, so to speak, and exited surrounded by his family.

He leaves a huge hole. But he will live on in all who loved him.

The service to honor and celebrate his life will be held on October 15, at 4 p.m., at All Souls Unitarian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve; The Allan Savory Institute; or All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa.