John Janssen

Sibley, Iowa

     John Janssen age 70 of Sibley, Iowa died on Monday, October 21, 2024, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

     A Memorial service will take place at 2:00 p.m. next Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the First Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa.

     Visitation will be Friday, November 1st from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley, Iowa.

     John Craig Janssen was born August 21, 1954, in Sibley to Loren and Cecelia (Kennedy) Janssen, He attended St. Andrews Catholic School and Sibley-Ocheyedan High School graduating in 1973.

     In 1972, John met the love of his life Valerie Johnson from Bigelow. They dated for three years and got married in 1975 at St Andrews Catholic Church in Sibley. To this union, they were blessed with three sons, Michael, Shane, and Patrick. All three gave us seven beautiful grandchildren plus three bonus grandchildren, John loved his sons and was so proud of them. You could hear him bragging about all three with a beaming smile. He cherished every minute with the grandkids from the motorized vehicles to the gator, golf cart, and go-cart rides. When they learned how to drive them and still learning they all played well together, John smiled ear to ear. He enjoyed going to their sporting events when he could go. He was very proud of his grandkids and loved them and their parents unconditionally. John would do anything for them. He'll be remembered for being a giving man who would help anyone and the love for his family.

     John had various jobs including AMPI, Hallet Construction, Boor Construction, and working for his father in the salvage yard. He decided he wanted to drive semi and was proud of the Peterbilt he owned and operated. He ran coast to coast taking his oldest son Michael with him during summer months on different trips all over the United States. In 1989 he sold his truck. He and his wife sold their house in town and bought an acreage outside of Sibley, where they raised their three boys and remained there today. He had a small salvage yard and had a tree business trimming and cutting down trees, also some demo work. He was a jack of all trades. He drove a truck later for D & K Transportation till he retired for health reasons. John was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Sheldon, IA.

     The first family vacation (National Lampoon Vacation) was in 1995 when we traveled to California for his brother Steve's wedding in an Olds station wagon with woodgrain. We put on 5000 miles in 2 weeks starting with Black Hills, Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Redwoods, Disney Land, Las Vegas, and home. It was a memorable vacation we will never forget with lots of laughs when we reminisce. John and Val loved to travel to races both Sprint and NASCAR. They would try to get to different NASCAR races where their oldest son Michael worked changing tires and in the shop fabricating. One of the most memorable ones was when we brought Ken and Sheila down to Charlotte Speedway to see the kids for Thanksgiving. We went to the track, and you could put your vehicle on track and do laps with other vehicles. Patrick came up from Fort Bragg and John knew the boys would race Mike in their car with Ken and Shiela and Patrick, John and Val in her Caddy. Needless to say, it was an experience we wouldn't forget, lots of laughs. John and Val enjoyed traveling south during cold months to see Mike in North Carolina and Patrick, who traveled all over for aviation. Shane was our anchor when his brothers were gone. He helped us in so many ways that were above and beyond, he followed his father’s footsteps of being mechanically inclined to include pursuing driving semi-trucks over the road. Most importantly he enjoyed working on motorcycles like his father. John and Val’s favorite place to visit was Daytona Beach. Blessed be his memory. 

     Left to cherish John’s memory are his wife of over 49 years, Valerie Janssen; three sons and their families, Michael (Tiffany Noble) Janssen, and their children, Sterling and Kennedy Janssen, and Austin, Carter, and Hadlee Noble of Milford, Iowa; Shane (Carissa) Janssen, and their children, Paxten, Letty, and Tatum Janssen of Milford, Iowa; and Patrick Janssen, and his children, Cecilia and Elliot Janssen of Sioux Falls, SD; six siblings, George Janssen of Colfax, CA, Gerard Janssen of Sibley, IA, Lorraine Kaiser of Spencer, IA, Steve Janssen of Sacramento, CA, Maureen Janssen of Hazelton, IA, Barb Janssen of La Crosse, WI; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lori and Loren Bosma of Sibley, IA, Dwight Johnson of Pryor, OK, and Katie Johnson of Sheldon, IA; and other extended family. 

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Cecelia Janssen; parents-in-law, Vernon and Jessie Johnson; three brothers-in-law, Rick Kaiser, Larry Johnson, and Gerald Johnson; and one sister-in-law, Marlene Johnson.