Emerson L. Janssen 84 of Minonk, passed away 5:20 P.M. Monday, May 21, 2001 at BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Bloomington. His Memorial Service will be at 2:00 P.M. Monday, May 28, 2001 at the Minonk Baptist Church with the Rev. Harry Sanders officiating. The Family will receive friends immediately after the Memorial Service at his Church. Memorials may be directed to the Blackhawk Baptist Church Camp in Oregon, Illinois.

Mr. Janssen was born December 13, 1916 in Minonk the son of George D. and Edith E. Besett Janssen. He married Lois Finnell August 10, 1940 in Venice, California. She survives along with two sons Judson and Joel both of Bloomington, five grandchildren Karinda (Tom) Webb of Hanover Park, Illinois and Kevin (Beth) Kanarski of Downer Grove, Illinois, Vanessa, Olivia and Mallory Antonino of Naperville, Il one great-grandchild Rachel Kanarski and two-step great-grandchildren Mindi and T.J. Webb.

He was preceded in death by two sons Jeremy and James, two daughters Jacqueline Kanarski and Jennifer Antonino, and two grandsons Dominic and Emerson Antonino.

He was a member of the Minonk Baptist Church, American Baptist Men, Woodford County Flyers Chapter and Woodford County Farm Bureau. He volunteered for three years as manager of Blackhawk Baptist Church Camp in Oregon, Illinois. He also volunteered for three summers at the Hopi Reservation in Arizona where he supervised building projects. He also volunteered at the Rainbow Acres Ranch for handicapped children in Arizona. He made ten trips to Nicaragua and Costa Rica doing missionary work building schools and churches.

He farmed in the Minonk area until he retired in 1983. Prior to farming he spent 10 years in California with Douglas Aircraft Company. He sold Insurance for Woodford County Mutual Insurance Company and also had served as a Director and President of Woodford County Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors. At the age of 76 he fulfilled his lifelong dream of skydiving with his Grandson Kevin.