Obituary of Donavon Richard Janssen

Donavon Richard "Don" Janssen, age 85 of Omaha and formerly of Yankton passed away quietly, with family next to him on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Omaha, NE. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 PM, Friday, February 28, 2014 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Ken Lulf officiating. Burial will be in the Beaver Creek Cemetery, rural Crofton, NE at approximately 4:00 PM with Military Graveside Rites. Visitations will begin at 6:00 PM, Thursday evening at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Donavon Janssen was born in Aten, Nebraska on January 3rd 1929 to William and Mary (Kollars) Janssen. He was on this earth for 85 years and he lived a full life. Don grew up on a small farm, just over the river, south of Yankton, South Dakota. He attended High School in Yankton and graduated with the class of 1947. After graduating high school, at the age of 18, Don enlisted in the United States ARMY. He served at many duty stations to include Watertown, New York, Fort Eustis, Virginia, South Korea, Guam, Germany and France. Twelve years of his total 21 years of service was spent serving and traveling in Europe during the "Cold War". It was when he was in Paris, France that he met the love of his life Gerritje "Gerry" Atsma. They were married in 1954 and they had two children, William and Henry Janssen. In 1968, Don retired from the Army and the family moved back to Yankton. Don and Gerry bought a house on Spruce Street and they lived happily there for over 30 years. Don worked at businesses such as Montgomery Ward, Heles Supply and finally Wal-Mart. Recently he received his pin for 20 years of employment there. His days were occupied with his job, tending to his garden, yard work and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his good friend, Phyllis. He had many loving people near him all the way up to his transition to the afterlife to include his loving daughter-in-law, Jennifer. He will always be loved, admired and remembered by his family. We are happy that he is in a better place and with those who have gone before him in heaven. He is survived by his two sons, William (Mary) of Olivet, SD and Henry (Jennifer) of Omaha, NE; nine grandchildren: William, Rebecca, Alexa, Brittany, Peter, Ashley, Montana, James and Jenna; and nine great grandchildren: Kyra, Clayton, Kaeden, Michaela, Kasmira, Kasen, Marshall, Michael and Desmond and one of the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary, his wife, Gerritje, two sisters, Elfrida and Gertrude, his brother, Wilfred, nephew, Douglas, and sister-in-law, Mary. The family requests memorials to the charity of your choice.