Gerald Janzen

Gerald Daniel Janzen, 66 of Kearney, NE died Saturday, November 27, 2011 at his home in Kearney, NE. Funeral services will be held in Kearney on Thursday, December 2 at 10:30 am at New Life Assembly with Pastors Bob Wine and Roger Wendt officiating. Interment will be at the Hampton Cemetery in Hampton, NE at 2:30 pm. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1 at O’Brien ?" Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney and also one hour before the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to The American Heart Association. Online condolences or personal reflections may be submitted at osafh.com. O'Brien - Straatmann Funeral Home of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Gerald was born on July 30, 1944 in York, NE to Daniel and Linda (Regeir) Janzen. He grew up in Hampton, NE. He received his elementary education from District 81 Country school through the 5th grade. He attended Jr. and Sr. High in Hampton and graduated in 1963. He attended JUKO College in Hutchison, KS for one year and then returned to the family farm to farm with his father Daniel Janzen. He was united in marriage to Francine Nelson on September 25, 1965 in Hampton, NE. They made their home north of Hampton, where they farmed until 1977. While in Hampton he served on the Hampton Coop Board as well as a trustee at the United Lutheran Church. Gerald and his family moved to O’Neill, NE and several other towns in Nebraska until 1980 when they moved to Sargent, NE to return to his first love of farming. He and Francine farmed near Sargent until 1989, when they moved to Kearney, NE. There he worked in sales until he began his own trucking business. He owned and operated several trucks, leasing them on at Lindsay Transportation hauling pivots from coast to coast as well as farming the family farm at Hampton NE. Gerald loved the open road and made many friends along the way but always looked forward to returning home to his family. After retiring due to declining health he spent his last years enjoying time with family and friends. He looked forward to his visits to the coffee shop with the "guys". If given the choice, one of his favorite places to take his wife to dinner was still the "truck stop". Gerald was never without a story and didn’t know a stranger. He loved people and being around others. He was known to always lend a helping hand. Gerald's faith was very important to him. He accepted Christ at a young age at a Youth for Christ Tent Meeting in Aurora. As a teenager he and his sister Sandra would ride the train from Aurora to Lexington to attend church camp at the Assembly of God Campgrounds every summer. He was baptized at Covenant Cedars Bible Camp. He attended New Life Assembly in Kearney, NE. Gerald is survived by his wife Francine Janzen, of Kearney; his daughter Michelle Risk and her husband Joe of Kearney; his son David Janzen of Petersburg, NE; his youngest daughter Kerri Koenig and her husband Brian of Lincoln, NE; and his sister Sandra Hall and her husband Ron of Norfolk, NE. Other survivors include his grandchildren Daniel, Grace, Brent, and Shawn Janzen, Sophie Koenig and Zak and Kaz Risk. He was preceded in death by both parents, Daniel and Linda Janzen.

Gerald Janzen

July 30, 1944 - November 27, 2010