Gary M Janssen

Gary Martin Janssen of Franklin, Nebraska passed away on September 26, 2023, at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney at the age of 80. He was born February 20, 1943, at his grandparents farm northeast of Franklin, Nebraska to Martin Gerald Janssen and Lorma Marie (Wessels) Janssen. Gary was baptized in April of 1957 at the United Methodist Church in Franklin, Nebraska.

He lived south of Franklin until the age of 6 and his family moved to their farm north and east of Franklin. Gary started school in the first grade at Franklin Public School and graduated with the class of 1961.

During high school he worked for farmers in the Minden area and also went on a harvest crew with Harry Jones. After graduation he moved to Omaha in the fall of 1961 where he found a job working for Clayton Price & Sons at their furniture factory. He worked there until September of 1968 when he was drafted into the US Army. He attended basic training in Fort Lewis, Washington. While on leave home at Christmas 1968 he met his future wife on Christmas night. He returned from his leave on January 2, 1969 to Fort Lewis. On February 9, 1969 he was transferred to Vietnam where he spent 14 months in combat. He was able to go on R&R to Sidney, Australia for 2 weeks in November of 1969. He returned to Nebraska on April 21, 1970. At the time of his discharge he had earned the rank of Sargant. He also received 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star medal.

After returning home he began working at the Franklin Livestock every week and raising livestock of his own. He also helped his Dad on the farm.

On December 12, 1970, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Marie Jackson at Grace Lutheran Church in Franklin, Nebraska. They moved to their own farm north and west of Franklin. He started farming, raising cattle and hogs while continuing to work at Franklin Livestock. He also worked during corn harvest and helped plant wheat for Dean Bonham Farms. This union was blessed with 2 daughters, Melinda Sue on March 8, 1974, and Melissa Sharie on November 4, 1976. He enjoyed helping his girls with 4-H livestock and attending their sporting events. He was always very proud of what they had become and seeing them graduate college and venture out on their own. He so loved his family, especially his 3 grandsons. He enjoyed helping the boys with things and watching them grow. He will be missed by many.

In later years, after he retired from farming, he began to collecting 2-cylinder John Deere tractors and restoring them. He enjoyed taking them on tractor drives, to shows and plowing bees. Besides farming, this was a big passion of his. He was a member of the Platte Valley Antique Machinery Association.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, daughters Melinda Hogeland and husband Andy of Kearney, Nebraska, daughter Melissa Janssen of Scottsdale, Arizona, grandsons Spencer, Quinten and Will Hogeland of Kearney, Nebraska; sister Bonnie Goebel and husband Eugene of Franklin, Nebraska; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, sister-in-law Karen Israelson and her husband Don.

Funeral services were September 30, 2023, at 10:30 am at Grace Lutheran Church in Franklin, Nebraska with Rev. Dave Hutson officiating. Interment with military honors was at Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin, Nebraska.

Memorials are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church, the Franklin Senior Center of the Platte Valley Antique Association.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska  68970

Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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