Jimmy Gene JANSSEN

JANSSEN, MILLER, BROWN, YSKER, COUNTRYMAN, HILL, VISSER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/14/2012 at 19:51:47

February 22, 1948 --- September 11, 2012

MESERVEY — Jimmy G. Janssen, 64, of Meservey, died, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond, with his loving family at his side following a year long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the First Reformed Church, Meservey. The Rev. Rodney Meester and Rev. Krystal Oberheu of Salem United Methodist Church will be officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the Offuit Air Force Base Military Honor Guard and the Clear Lake VFW Post will be in the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continues one hour prior to the services at church Saturday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Jimmy’s name may wish to consider the Mason Cancer Center, University of Iowa Cancer Center, Lung Cancer Alliance, to the family, or the donor’s choice.

Jimmy Gene Janssen, the son of Gene Sterling and Ora Ellen (Miller) Janssen was born Feb. 22, 1948, at Mason City. In his childhood he moved with his family to the Belmond area where he attended Belmond Community Schools graduating from Belmond High School in the Class of 1966. Following high school Jim commenced one of a number of stints of military service in the United States Air Force, Marines, and Air Force Reserves. He served in the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Operations Desert Shield, Operations Desert Storm, and in various other locations and time periods both active and in the Reserves. His main responsibilities for most of his military tenure were in transport as a Load Master with C-130 aircraft. Jim played a major and integral role in the transportation of more than 157,000 military personnel on almost 3,300 missions, as well as in the movement of countless military equipment and weaponry. In all, Jim had spent 30 years serving his country. His rank at the time of his Honorable Discharge in the Air Force was as a Staff Sgt., and from the Marine Corps he was released from service as a Cpl. Jim had received numerous commendations, medals, and ribbons during his six different stints of service, including, National Service Defense Medal with one Bronze Star, Air Force and Navy Outstanding Unit Awards, Navy Meritorious Commendation with Unit Device, Marine Corp. Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Award Ribbon with One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon/Rifle, Humanitarian Service Award, as well as other recognitions during his years in both active and reserve duties.

Jim was united in marriage to Rebecca Brown on Aug. 10, 1974, at the Cambridge Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Minn. The couple’s union was blessed with a baby girl, Kelly, who was the apple of her father’s eye. At and early age and through her years of adolescence, Kelly or “Punky” to Jimmy; and her father spent countless hours and occasions together sharing in Jimmy’s passion and love for work horses. Jim had a great fondness for the majestic Clydesdales, often times with Kelly at his side helping once in awhile at Britt Draft Horse Show. In later years he continued to keep his interest strong by attending the Britt Draft Horse Show and other equestrian events.

Jim’s life interests, hobbies and past times were many and diverse. He enjoyed family fishing trips to the cabin at his favorite resort at Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota, an occasional excursion to the casino, cowboy and western movies and t.v. shows, such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and of course watching John Wayne movies with Jim’s sidekick and buddy, Clay, at his side. He loved farming, mountains, the great outdoors, sight seeing, and just taking off on journey’s where ever they may lead. He was a free spirit with a great memory, unique sense of humor and wit, and had a great knack for telling stories many of which he had witnessed first hand. Many may not have been aware of Jimmy being a Bob Marley fan as well. His friendships and love for people spanned great distances both in the United States and reaching abroad countries where he had served during his military careers.

Jim’s life was filled with countless miles of travels by air and by land. He was always excited for that next adventure, whether it was by aircraft during the service, on the the highway or back roads of life of his civilian profession as a truck driver, or on a family get away. Jim was never grounded for long. He truly lived life to the fullest and made every second count. Upon being diagnosed with cancer in September 2011 he faced this enemy straight on and put in the battle like no other. He kept an upbeat and positive attitude all the way until the last moments of his life before he was honorably discharged one last time into freedom from this life ending battle. Jim was then awarded with the greatest commendation of all and the greatest journey and adventure ever.

Those who had the chance to cross in one of Jim’s countless life journey’s will cherish memories of him as a man of honor and dignity, full of life, with a “Heart of Gold,” who would do almost anything for others. He was a loyal friend, faithful ally, and devoted husband and doting father, who was extremely proud and thankful for his supportive wife and life partner, Rebecca and all she did to raise their daughter over his many years of service and travels.

His legacy will live in in the hearts and minds of his wife and soul mate of 38 years, Rebecca Janssen, Meservey, daughter Kelly Janssen, Meservey, and her companion Justin Ysker, two sisters, Ellen (Mike) Countryman, Kanawha, Hazel Hill, Springfield, Mo., “Papa Jim” is also survived by his two favorite “Honyachs” Clayton and Kaylee Jo Visser, both of Sigourney, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces and nephews, his special pup “Dakota Ray” and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, and his mother Ora and father Gene Janssen. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa.

September 14, 2012
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa