Fair / 57° F
Donald Lee “Don” Janssen, 84, of Underwood
Published 10:21am Monday, February 6, 2012 Updated 12:23pm Monday, February 6, 2012Donald Janssen, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Lake Region Healthcare.
He was born May 18, 1927, in Brookings, S.D., the son of George Herman and Amelia (Blum) Janssen. Don was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pipestone and confirmed at Terrace Lutheran Church.
He completed schooling in Terrace.
In 1946, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 34th Combat Engineering Division. Don was sent to Korea during World War II and helped construct an airport there before he was honorably discharged.
On Dec. 13, 1947, he married Elaine B. Skeslien at the Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church parsonage near Terrace.
The couple resided at rural Benson where Don worked on a turkey farm and also assisted as a farm worker in the area.
In 1958, the couple moved to Fergus Falls where he was employed at the Oak Ridge Turkey Farm and also at the Ottertail Co-op Oil Company, Farmer’s Elevator and G.T.A. of Battle Lake before retiring in 1988.
He owned and operated Milbrand Tackle where he made and sold fishing gear. They are the parents of four sons, Harlan, Bradley, Dale and Steven
He was a member of the Sverdrup Lutheran Church where he served on the church council; also a member of the V.F.W. Post 612 of Fergus Falls and the Eagle’s Club 620 of Morris.
Don served as mayor of Underwood, on the City Council and the Underwood Housing Board of Directors. He taught firearm safety and youth snowmobile training and umpired slow pitch softball in Underwood.
His hobbies included fishing, deer and pheasant hunting, watching the Twins and Vikings and enjoyed camping with Elaine.
Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Elenora, who died at two months; a brother, George; and a daughter-in-law, Ruth.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine of Underwood; four sons, Harlan (Joyce) of Alexandria, Bradley of Fergus Falls, Dale (Gail) of Montevideo and Steven (Sue) of Morris; seven grandchildren, Rollin (Molly), Dehreck (Kristie), Dehan (Jaret) Schwan, Brett (Elizabeth), Aaron, Melany (Joel) Erickson and Amber (Curt) Huschkatks; 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Harold (Darlene) of Bismarck, N.D.; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and a host of friends.
Visitation: Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m., at the church, and one hour prior to the service
Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Sverdrup Lutheran Church, Underwood
Clergy: Rev. Nancy Monke
Burial: Sverdrup Cemetery, Underwood
Funeral Home: Faith and Hope Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences may be sent online at faithhopefh.com
