Ellen Joyce Janssen, 92, of Nokomis, died on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hillsboro.
Visitation will be Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to noon, at Sutton Funeral Home in Nokomis. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will immediately follow with Pastor Ralph Ward officiating. Inurnment will be in Nokomis Cemetery.
Mrs. Janssen was born on Jan. 20, 1931, in Pana, to John Sphar and Thuressa Evelyn (Milligan) Sphar. She married Marlyn L. Janssen on Aug. 21, 1952, at Luther Memorial Church in Springfield. He preceded her in death on Sept. 6, 2019, after celebrating 67 years of marriage.
Mrs. Janssen graduated from Pana High School in 1948. After graduation, she worked as a stenographer for the National Greenhouse Company in Pana and also as a secretary for the doctors in the OBGYN ward at Travis Air Force Base hospital, while her husband was stationed in California. She would once again work for the National Greenhouse Company when her husband was deployed to Okinawa, Japan. When his active duty in the Air Force was completed, they both farmed and raised black Angus cattle on the family farm. She was a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Janssen is survived by her sons, Curtis Janssen (Ida Nielsen) of Livermore, CA and Bruce Janssen of Nokomis and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Orvel Sphar; and sisters, Betty Lynch and Doris Jackson.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Shriners Children’s Hospital. Condolences may be left online at suttonmemorialhome.com.
