Eleanor Janssen, of Dowagiac

Published 9:34 am Thursday, March 2, 2017

Eleanor Mae (Drake) Janssen, 88, of Dowagiac, passed away Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

She was born May 14, 1928, the daughter of Vance and Goldie (Hodges) Drake in Dowagiac.

On Nov. 23, 1946, she married Raymond Janssen. He survives.

Eleanor is also survived by five children. They include Thomas (Beth) Janssen, Teresa Hemenway, Timothy (Judy) Janssen, Trudy (Daniel) Coville and Tena (David) Warkentien. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include three sisters, Emma Jean Jerz of Dowagiac, Eunice (Robert) Luke of Dowagiac and Estelle (Frank) Beach of Decatur, and a sister-in-law, Svhirley Janssen of Dowagiac. She also is survived by a loyal and loving dog, Patton.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two children, Theodore and Tammy; two grandchildren, Harley Hemenway and Melissa Warkentien; a brother, Emerson Drake; and a sister, Elaine Matthews.

Eleanor worked in a variety of places including Modar Inc.; Consolidated Diecast; Page Electric in Decatur; and the Decatur Republican newspaper, which she dearly loved.

She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and Women’s Group in Decatur, the Monday Night Running Club, and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and was a Van Buren County 4-H leader for many years. She loved to crochet, go camping, wallpaper and especially loved to play games with her family and friends. She was known for her quick wit and great sense of humor. She and her husband welcomed many friends and family into their home through the years. Eleanor was a wonderful wife, mom, grandmother and friend and will be missed by many.

Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2017, at Newell Chapel in Decatur. A rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 20147, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 500 W. St. Mary St., Decatur, with Father Richard Altine presiding. Burial will be in South Wayne Cemetery, Gage Street, Dowagiac.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to Southwest Michigan Hospice or the Holy Family Scholarship Fund. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at
newellchapel.com.