Ora E. (Locke) JANSSEN

JANSSEN, WARDEN, LOCKE, JOHNSON, MILLER, HILL, COUNTRYMAN, MULLEN, STUDER, COOK, MAGNUSON, KABRICK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/27/2007 at 10:06:36

Ora E. Janssen, 79, Belmond, died October 19, 2007 at the Kanawha Community Home. Services were held October 23 at Salem United Methodist Church in Meservey with Rev. Rose Khaan and Rev. Steve Schultz officiating. Burial was in the Meservey Cemetery.

Ora, the daughter of Ira and Elsie (Warden) Locke, was born May 10, 1928 in Rulo, NE. She began school at Rulo and later attended school at Chapin after the family moved to Iowa. Ora married Gene Sterling Janssen July 5, 1947 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The early years of their marriage were spent together as a team in Gene's trucking operation with Warren Transportation. Ora was also a waitress for a time at the White House Cafe and the Sportsman's Bar, both in Blue Earth, MN, where she lived for five years. The family moved to Belmond in 1962. She was employed for a number of years at the Mello Maid in Belmond, and later they operated Archibald's Restaurant in Belmond and Rosebud's Cafe in Meservey. Ora was also a cook at the Belmond Hospital for many years. Ora's culinary skills were excellent, as those who enjoyed her cooking would testify. A favorite past time of the Janssen family entailed Sunday afternoon gatherings for a feast of Ora's kitchen delights. Favorites were Ora's one-of-a-kind pan fried chicken, chow mein hotdish, and homemade gravy. Following a wonderful meal, the family would spend the rest of the day in friendly competition of 500 and Owa Hu Marbles. In early years Ora was an avid bowler. She and Gene also loved to go dancing at Duncan and the Surf and Ritz in Clear Lake. Ora enjoyed gardening and canning, and her marigolds and rose bushes. In recent years she enjoyed the camaraderie at the Belmond Community Apartments and evenings playing bingo. Ora was a longtime member of Salem United Methodist Church and the Meservey American Legion Auxillary. Ora had been a resident of the Kanawha Community Home, where her daughter Ellen is employed, since May 24 of this year.

Ora was preceded in death by her parents; husband in December 1993; sister Bertha Johnson; and brothers Donald and Merle Miller. Survivors include son Jimmy (Rebecca) Janssen of Meservey; daughters Hazel Hill of Ozark, MO and Ellen (Michael W.) Countryman of Kanawha; brother Robert (Kaye) Miller of Eureka Springs, AR; sister Betty Mullen of Big Bear Lake, CA; grandchildren Jimmi (Lindsay) Hill of Springfield, MO, Matthew (Deb) Studer of Goodell, Dante (Jennifer) Hill of Gresham, OR, Martin Gene Countryman of Garner, Kelly Danielle Janssen of Mason City, Michael A. (Jennifer) Countryman of Klemme, Cody Hill of Ozark, and Tina (Jamie) Cook of Belmond; and great grandchildren Katie Magnuson, Cheyenne Studer, Alexandria Hill, Skylar Kabrick, Jordan and Kerya Cook.

October 23, 2007
©Belmond Independent 2007