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Jansen, Merle
Merle Jansen, 90, died Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Clinics, Iowa City, following a sudden illness.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, at the Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello, with interment in Wayne Zion Cemetery. The Rev. Ellery Dykeman will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at . In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wayne Zion Lutheran Church or a charity of choice.
Surviving are four children, Shirley (George) Young, Walker, Minn., Sandra (Charlie) Tauber, Hackensack, Minn., Stuart (Mary Jo) Jansen, Cascade, and Steve (Laurie) Jansen, Anamosa; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Marvin Jansen, Monticello, and Bill (Sharon) Jansen, Jr. Leesburg, Fla.; his special friend, Mary Ann Siebels, Monticello; Mary's two daughters, Joan (Jon) Turnquist, New York, and Sue (Mike) Holmes, Monticello; and Mary's eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mayeda in 2001; and a brother, Clifford in 2013.
Merle Andrew Jansen was born July 6, 1923, in Wayne Township, Jones County, Iowa, on the family farm. He was the son of William T. and Hattie (Zimmerman) Jansen. Merle attended the Amber area schools and graduated from the Anamosa Community Schools in 1941. He chose farming as his life's work.
Merle Jansen and Mayeda Weers were married on Aug. 16, 1945, at the Wayne Zion Lutheran Church. The couple farmed near Amber. Merle loved farming. He was active in 4H as a youth. He later served on the Jones County Conservation Committee, was a Wayne Township Trustee and a member of the N.F.O. Merle was a lifelong member of the Wayne Zion Lutheran Church. He confirmed his faith there on April 25, 1937.
He loved and cherished his family and friends and enjoyed traveling to Minnesota to visit his daughters and grandchildren. He loved to listen to music, go dancing, play cards and to tinker and fix anything that was broken. Merle always had a smile and an optimistic view of the world.
Published Nov. 25, 2013, in The Gazette
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