Mary Elizabeth (LeClere) Janssen

Mary Elizabeth (LeClere) Janssen, 80, of rural Vinton, passed away Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, and entered her heavenly home after a courageous battle with cancer at her son’s home in Van Horne surrounded by her family. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at River Of Life Church, 3701 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, with Pastor Steve Irwin officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Newhall.

Mary was born Feb. 14, 1932, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the youngest of 10 children to Fredrick L. and Anna Laura (Schleicher) LeClere. She married Hilbert Janssen on July 1, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. They were stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Ala., from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean conflict. They farmed near Vinton all of their lives. Mary enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, times of fellowship after church and trying new restaurants with family and friends.

Mary is survived by her husband of 61 years, Hilbert; her sons, Randy (Catherine) of Van Horne, Rodney (Shannon), David (Jenny) and Kurt (Carrie), all of Vinton; daughters, Jodie Olson, Menomonie, Wis., Julie (Scott) Hansen, Vinton, Jackie (Gregg) Koss, Swisher and Jeri (Tom) Thompson and Jeanne Dennis, both of Marion; one brother, Ed LeClere of Cedar Rapids; 19 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son-in-law, Darrel Olson, Menomonie, Wis.; two sisters, Irene Pendarvis, Junction City, Kan. and Anna Holscher of Earlville; and six brothers, Raymond, Robert and Casper of Cedar Rapids, Kenneth of Casper, Wyo., George of Dunedin, Fla. and William of Maryland.

A memorial fund has been established.

The family expresses appreciation to Dr. Dearden and Hospice Compassus and their staff Denny, Augusta and Judy for their loving care.

Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Published in The Gazette Dec. 25, 2012.