Ed Jansen

Ed Jansen of Clara City died on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at CCM Health in Montevideo at the age of 95.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City.

Visitation with the family will be held from 4:30 to 7:00pm on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday.

Edward Jansen was born March 13, 1930, the oldest of six children born to Henry and Cornelia (VanVelzen) Jansen, in Sioux County, Iowa. He attended country school through the 8th grade, and then went to work on a farm.

On July 26, 1951, Ed married Marie Haverhals at Lebanon Christian Reformed Church. The next year, they moved from Northwest Iowa to Clara City to begin farming. They raised corn, soybeans, wheat, hogs and cattle. And they lovingly raised 4 children and 27 foster children, including 17 newborns. They farmed together for 40 years. Ed continued to help on the farm after retirement, and combined at the age of 94. While always maintaining close ties to their families in Iowa, they created a Minnesota “family” of neighbors and friends made at the Clara City Christian Reformed Church and Bethany Church. There were many, many Sunday afternoons of visiting with these friends. And there were trips to the lake with neighbors to cool off after a day of haying. Ed was an honest, dependable, hard-working man: he also knew how to have fun and relaxed by fishing, watching and reading Westerns, and playing cards. An ideal Sunday afternoon was talking farming with his sons, and then he’d say, “Deal the cards!” As Marie’s health declined, Ed was a faithful, devoted caregiver and celebrated the 70 years of walking hand-in-hand.

Ed is survived by his children: Loren (Rosemary) Jansen of Lowry, Murlaine Rieger, Dean and Tom Jansen, Clara City. His cherished grandchildren: Tracy (Matt) Radil, Julie (Brent) Bruss, Kelly (Mike) Dechaine, Josh (Jen) Alm, Zack (Simone) Rieger, and his delightful great-grandchildren: Michael, Amber, and Emily Peabody; James, Evan, and Sophie Radil; Halle and Hannah Bruss; Cam, Carson, Brooks and Avi Dechaine; William and Aric Rieger; Bella Alm

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marie; siblings and their spouses: Anna Marie and Raymond Gortsema, Mike and Ken Garettson, Cornie and Ruth Jansen, Junior and Winona Jansen, Don Jansen; and his son-in-law Mark Rieger.