Borness, Jennie (Johnson) 1920 - 2017

BORNESS, JOHNSON, ERICKSON, GRIMES, RONEY, WANGSNESS, BRAINARD, KRUEGER, HUGHES, BURKE, STAFFORD, MCGRANE, BARJENBRUCH, GUYER, LEE, ANDERSON, RANDALL, PRITCHARD, LUDERS, BUTTS, FENNELL, THORBJORNSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/9/2017 at 17:38:16

Jennie Borness, age 97, of Decorah, IA, died on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at the Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah, IA.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2017, at the Springfield Lutheran Church, 1969 Middle Calmar Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phil Olson presiding. Burial will be in the Springfield Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA.

Visitation will be held after 10:00 a.m., at the Springfield Lutheran Church on Saturday morning.

Jennie (Johnson) Borness was born on March 3, 1920, the daughter of Ole and Margaret (Erickson) Johnson in Wadena, IA. Jennie was baptized and confirmed at the West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont, IA. Jennie graduated from Clermont High School in 1936. She worked as a housekeeper until she was married to Einar Borness, on March 3, 1938, at the West Clermont Lutheran Church. Together they farmed in Fayette County, and on a farm near Postville, IA. In 1947, they moved to the Borness family homestead in Springfield Township; which is now a Century Farm. They farmed with son, Dave from 1969-75 and then from 1975-77 with daughter Joanne and husband Justin. In 1978, they bought a home in Arizona and spent their winters there for twenty-nine years. They returned to Decorah during the summer and remained living near the farm until 2000. In 2007, they moved to Wellington Place Assisted Living and then into the Wellington Place Nursing Home in Feb. 2014. In their younger days, Einar and Jennie also helped to start the "Swingin' Squares"� square dancing group from West Union. Not willing to miss out on the fun, Einar and Jennie took up snowmobiling in the late 60's and early 70's. They both enjoyed playing cards. Jennie was the manager of the Midwest Textiles fabric store and oversaw the operations of six locations: Mabel, MN, Ossian, Monticello, Osage, Clarksville and Wadena, IA, during the mid 1970's. Jennie loved to square dance, was an excellent baker and cook. She also was an avid morel mushroom hunter; hunting from her early childhood years and well into her 80's. Jennie also was an Amway Distributor and a 4-H Leader. She also was an active member of the Springfield Lutheran Church, where she held various offices within the church.

Jennie is survived by her husband of 79 years: Einar Borness, Decorah, IA. Four children: Jan Grimes, Decorah, IA; Joanne (Justin) Roney, Decorah, IA; Lorrie (Chuck) Wangsness, Decorah, IA; and Dave (Diane) Borness, Murray, IA. Ten grandchildren: Kyle (Marilee) Grimes, Kristi Grimes, Kraig (Terri) Grimes, Terry (Mark) Brainard, Annette (Dave) Krueger, Steve Roney, Troy (Janel) Wangsness, Traci (Mike) Hughes, Shanna (Scott) Burke, and Keith (Amy) Borness. Great Grandchildren: Jason (Bryanna) Grimes, Cody Grimes, Bethany (Justin) Stafford, Logan McGrane, Garrett McGrane, Brooke Grimes, Kramer Grimes, Megan Grimes, Leah (Jared) Barjenbruch, Khara Krueger, Sarah Krueger, Montana Wangsness, Alexandra Wangsness, Alec Hughes, Raquel Hughes, Mitchell (Jennifer) Guyer, Dustin (Sami Lee) Guyer, Casey Guyer, Tanner Guyer, Anna Borness and Benjamin Borness. Five great great grandchildren: Alivia and Kinsley Stafford, Blair and Ryann Grimes and Makayla Guyer. One sister-in-law: Willie Johnson, Monroe, NC.

Jennie was preceded in death by her parents: Ole and Margaret (Erickson) Johnson. Her step-father: Ludwig (Louie) Anderson. Son-in-law: Ken Grimes. Four great great grandchildren: Braeden, James, Summer Rose and Adaline Paige Guyer. Eleven siblings and their spouses: Bertha (Clarence) Randall, Harry (Mildred) Johnson, Marie (Roscoe) Pritchard, Harley Johnson, Oscar (Bernice) Johnson, Mabel (Virgil) Luders, Harold Johnson, Blanche (Don) Butts, Gladys (Jim) Fennell, Kenneth (Lucille) Johnson, and Ole (Helen "Sue") Johnson. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Engvold and Cecelia (Thorbjornson) Borness.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Springfield Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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