Obituary of Bertha Estelle Janssen

MONTICELLO, IOWA Bertha E. "Dolly" Janssen, 92, of Monticello, Iowa died Thursday, October 10, 2013, at Monticello Nursing & Rehab. Center. Friends may call from 3 - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 13, at Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello, Iowa where a vigil service will be held at 3 p.m. Friends may continue to call Monday, Oct. 14, after 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello where a Mass of Christian Burial will commence at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Paul Baldwin. Dolly was born on June 26, 1921, in Delhi, Iowa, the daughter of Jacob and Josephine (Besler) Merfeld. She received her education in the country schools of Dubuque County and St. Mary's Catholic School in Cascade, Iowa. She grew up on farms in the Worthington, Cascade and Monticello areas. During WWII she worked at Quaker Oats Company in Cedar Rapids and as "Rosie the Riveter" for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, WA. She later became a member of the Rosie the Riveter Association. After the war ended she moved back to Monticello where she worked at Peterman's Café and met her husband to be, John Janssen Jr. They were married on August 27, 1946, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello. Dolly worked at Thomas Bakery until December, 1947 when they moved to a farm in Delaware County. After 16 years of farming, the couple moved back to Monticello. She was a 4-H Leader for a number of years, a daycare provider, and later worked at Edwards Department Store. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and served several of its committees. Dolly's greatest love was her husband, John, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, golf, traveling, going to Cubs games, card playing, bowling and dancing. Survivors include her children: Gary (Pat) Janssen of Island Lake, IL., Pam (Vern) Skripsky of Weatherford, TX., Sandy Kremer (Robbie Kremer) and Marla (David) Jacobs both of Monticello, 12 grandchildren: 13 great grandchildren, 1 brother, Albert (Wilma) Merfeld of Monticello; 2 sisters-in-law, Maj Merfeld of New Mexico and Dorothy Janssen of Monticello, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, Jr.; siblings: Nick (Marie) Merfeld, Loretta (Earl) Brown, Henry Merfeld, Lester (Liz) Merfeld, Ray Merfeld and Marie (Alvin) Miller and an infant sister, Martha; several brothers-and-sisters-in-law. Memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Above and Beyond Hospice or Camp Courageous of Iowa.