Skip to main content

Charles Janssen

Lead Summary
.png">

Charles Janssen, 84, Luverne, died Friday, March 4, 2016, at the Luverne Sanford Hospice Cottage.
A funeral service was Wednesday, March 9, at the Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. Burial followed at the Grand Prairie Cemetery in Ellsworth with full military honors provided by the Ellsworth American Legion and VFW.
Charles Janssen was born March 31, 1931, to Meine and Gladys (Pontow) Janssen in Sibley, Iowa. In 1948 Charles enlisted in the United States Navy for four years. He served through the Korean War. After honorable discharge from service in 1952 Charles returned to Sibley, Iowa.
On January 12, 1953, Charles married Jennie De Boer in Ellsworth. After their marriage they farmed for seven years. In 1961 Charles was appointed acting postmaster of the Ellsworth Post Office. In 1963 he took a job as rural mail carrier for the Ellsworth area. His wife Jennie died in 1992. After 39 years of service to the post office, Charles retired in 1996.
In April of 1996 he married Gerda De Boer. They enjoyed their retirement traveling to Arizona in the winter season. In 2007 they purchased a home and moved to Luverne.
Charles was a member of the Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, where he was very active. He served as elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was also active in the community serving on the fire department, school board, city council, and the American Legion. Jansen was also elected to the State Board of Minnesota Rural Letter Carriers Association.
He is survived by his wife, Gerda, Luverne; two sons, Steve Janssen, Sacramento, California, and Mark (Sharon) Janssen, Ellsworth; a daughter, Diane Janssen, Sacramento, California; a stepson, Harlan (Doraliza) De Boer, Wylie, Texas; a stepdaughter, Linda (Russ) Guerue, Brookings, South Dakota; three grandchildren, Thomas (Carrie) Janssen, Kimberly (Daniel) DeBeer, Camila De Boer; one great-grandson, Mason DeBeer; a brother, Fred (Myrna) Hosteller, Hillsbaro, Oregon; and a sister-in-law, Marlys Janssen, Chaska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Jennie; an infant daughter, Susan; three sisters, Ruby Edmonds, Ruth Janssen, and Marlys Thorton; two brothers, Marvin and Vern Janssen; a sister-in-law, Vi Janssen; and two brothers-in-law, Ed Edmonds and Bill Thorton.
Arrangements were by Dingmann Funeral Home of Adrian, www.dingmannandsons.com.
 (0310 F)

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.