Donald "Tony" Janssen, 82, formerly of Minonk, passed from this life to everlasting life on Friday (May 30, 2008) at 3:06 p.m. at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in LaSalle, where he had lived for the last 6 ½ years.

He was born on March 4, 1926, at the family farm south of Minonk, the son of John and Greta Cassens Janssen. He married Lois Sulzberger on Jan. 9, 1954, in Ransom. She died on Dec. 12, 1973. He later married Doris Sutter on Aug. 4, 1978, in Minonk. She survives in El Paso.

Also surviving are three sons, Robert (Pamela) Janssen and Roger (Leta Ann) Janssen, both of Minonk; and John (Ida Mae) Janssen of Ransom; three stepchildren, Tricia (Lyle) Carlson of Peru, Ind., Greg (Anna) Peavler of Port St. Lucia, Fla., and Kathy (Tom) Porzelius of Gridley; 10 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; one brother, Glenn (Laura Mae) Janssen of Arlington, Iowa; and one sister-in-law, Marianna Janssen of Urbana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Eleanor Smith; one brother, Melvin Janssen; and an infant sister.

Don was a veteran of the Korean War, where he served in the United States Army. He was a member of the Minonk American Legion and the Minonk VFW.

He was a farmer in the Minonk area all of his life as well as a member of the Woodford County Farm Bureau.

He served 21 years on the M.D.R. school board, serving many years as the board secretary.

He was a member of the St. Paul’s Church in Minonk, where he served in years past as president, elder, and a teacher.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at his church. The Rev. Daniel GanschBoythe will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Minonk. Burial will be in the Minonk Township Cemetery, with military honors.

He loved the Lord, his family, and his country. Don especially enjoyed ballroom dancing.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association, Minonk American Legion, or the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

Donald “Tony” Janssen, 82, formerly of Minonk, passed from this life to everlasting life on Friday (May 30, 2008) at 3:06 p.m. at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in LaSalle, where he had lived for the last 6 ½ years.

He was born on March 4, 1926, at the family farm south of Minonk, the son of John and Greta Cassens Janssen. He married Lois Sulzberger on Jan. 9, 1954, in Ransom. She died on Dec. 12, 1973. He later married Doris Sutter on Aug. 4, 1978, in Minonk. She survives in El Paso.

Also surviving are three sons, Robert (Pamela) Janssen and Roger (Leta Ann) Janssen, both of Minonk; and John (Ida Mae) Janssen of Ransom; three stepchildren, Tricia (Lyle) Carlson of Peru, Ind., Greg (Anna) Peavler of Port St. Lucia, Fla., and Kathy (Tom) Porzelius of Gridley; 10 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; one brother, Glenn (Laura Mae) Janssen of Arlington, Iowa; and one sister-in-law, Marianna Janssen of Urbana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Eleanor Smith; one brother, Melvin Janssen; and an infant sister.

Don was a veteran of the Korean War, where he served in the United States Army. He was a member of the Minonk American Legion and the Minonk VFW.

He was a farmer in the Minonk area all of his life as well as a member of the Woodford County Farm Bureau.

He served 21 years on the M.D.R. school board, serving many years as the board secretary.

He was a member of the St. Paul’s Church in Minonk, where he served in years past as president, elder, and a teacher.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at his church. The Rev. Daniel GanschBoythe will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Minonk. Burial will be in the Minonk Township Cemetery, with military honors.

He loved the Lord, his family, and his country. Don especially enjoyed ballroom dancing.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association, Minonk American Legion, or the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.