Marvin Wayne JANSSEN

JANSSEN, SMIDT, STOKESBARY, THORSON, CAGLE, REYERSON, RENNER, GELNER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/14/2011 at 20:33:01

January 8, 1939 -- April 9, 2011

LAKE MILLS, IA - Marvin W. Janssen, 72, of Lake Mills, formerly of Garner, died Saturday, April 9, 2011, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with Pastor David E. Jordon officiating. Burial will take place in Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 13, from 5-7 p.m. at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday, April 14.

Marvin Wayne Janssen was born on Jan. 8, 1939, in Buffalo Center, to parents Ralph and Fannie (Smidt) Janssen. He attended and graduated from Buffalo Center High School. On Sept. 8, 1963, Marvin was united in marriage with Janice Stokesbary at the United Methodist Church in Klemme. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Jill and Jodi. Marvin was a general contractor, home builder, and partner in North Iowa Builders until the mid-1970s. Marvin was a skilled craftsman who loved working with his hands, and he built his family's home in Northwood among other notable constructions. Marvin later began a partnership - Gelner Janssen Automation- selling farm equipment in Klemme. He retired in 1995 due to health concerns. Marvin had many hobbies and interests including a love for golf, camping with his family, reading, and traveling. He and Jan took their family on many trips when the girls were younger going to places such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Florida. The family was grateful to have gone on a trip to Disney World in December of 2008.

He was a wonderful husband, he loved his family, and he had a wealth of pride in his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Janice of Lake Mills; two daughters, Jill (Todd) Thorson of Lake Mills, and Jodi (Jason) Cagle of Carrollton, Texas; "Grandpa's Team" Makenzie and Dalton Thorson of Lake Mills, and Connor and Colton Cagle of Carrollton, Texas; and his mother, Fannie Janssen of Mason City. Marvin is also survived by a brother, Gary (Rosemary) Janssen of Mason City; a close family friend, Judy (Cecil) Reyerson of Clear Lake; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Julie (Bill) Renner of Garner, and Jerry (Sharon) Stokesbary of Mason City; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Ralph Janssen; brother David Janssen; nephew, Rory Janssen; and his in-laws, Orville Stokesbary, Nova (Stokesbary) Gelner and Leon Gelner.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
April 12, 2011