John J. Jennissen
John J. Jennissen, age 78 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at his home in Sauk Centre.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 11, at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel presiding. Interment was in St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery.
John Joseph Jennissen was born Nov. 30, 1937, in Padua to Henry and Anna (Dericks) Jennissen. John grew up in Sauk Centre and is a 1956 graduate of Sauk Centre High School. After graduation, he worked on the family dairy and grain farm. On June 7, 1961, John was united in marriage to Donna M. Hinnenkamp at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. After their marriage, John and Donna moved to a farm east of Sauk Centre where they had a dairy and grain farm for 42 years. John also became a full-time school bus driver for the Sauk Centre Public Schools in 1961. John loved to work, watch TV, read farm papers, play cards, dance – especially polkas – and once in a while, enjoy a “Mich-ey Lite” (Michelob Golden Light beer).
John was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph’s Society and Catholic United Financial.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Donna M. Jennissen; children, Janel (Scott) Loesch of St. Cloud, Joy Sha of Bloomington, Jon (Gretchen) Jennissen of Sauk Centre and Joel (Marilee) Jennissen of Bloomington; grandchildren, Jessica Sha, Meagan Loesch, Garrett Loesch, Ashley Sha, Kylie Loesch, Evan Jennissen, Ellie Jennissen, Alicia Jennissen and Linzi Loesch; sisters, Irene Haskamp, Virginia Jimenez and Alice (Norm) Sterling; step-sisters and step-brother, Delphine Kostreba, Evelyn Ukkelberg and Ray (Norma) Karasch; step-sisters-in-law, Jean Shepard, Bernice Karasch, Carol Karasch and Geneva Karasch.
John was preceded in death by infant twin daughters, Judy and Jane; mother, Anna Jennissen; father, Henry Jennissen; step-mother, Frances Jennissen; three infant siblings; step-sister, Regina Grutsch; and step-brothers, Alois Karasch, Valentine Karasch, Daniel Karasch and Melvin Karasch.
Serving as casket bearers were his six oldest grandchildren, Jessica, Meagan, Garrett, Ashley, Kylie and Evan. Jim Sterling was the cross bear and Mary Kay Vanderwerf was the scripture bearer. John’s three youngest grandchildren, Ellie, Alicia and Linzi were gift bearers.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.