Carl Janzen

Carl Henry Janzen, age 91, of Saint James, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, December 8, 2025.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 17, 2026, at 3:00pm, at the VFW in Saint James. Come with your best Carl stories! Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Carl was born on November 30, 1934, at Bethel Hospital in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. His parents were Henry H. Janzen and Susie (Penner) Janzen. The Janzen family migrated to the United States from Prussia in the early 1900s. Carl's family were hard working Midwesterners. Although Henry never wanted to be a farmer, he had a love for trucking, and he passed that on to his son.

While building grain elevators in Jamestown, North Dakota, Carl's brother Ted came to visit in a beat-up old truck, Carl got in and never looked back. He left school in the 11th grade to pursue his love of trucking. When Carl turned 20, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. During the 3 years he spent in the military, his job consisted mostly of being the Colonel's chauffeur. A little fun fact about Carl, he was stationed at the same Army base as Elvis Presley and even had coffee with him one time!

After he left the military in 1957, he continued to drive truck. Then in 1960, through some friends, he met Victoria Wolle. They married on August 25, 1961, in Saint James. After they married, they moved to Silver Bay, Minnesota where he worked at Reserve Mining. During his time in northern Minnesota, he also had three children, Brenda (62), Kim (61) and Jay ((59). His love to drive truck didn't stop while working at Reserve Mining. He worked part time hauling logs into Duluth for a close friend.

In 1975, Carl and his family decided to move back to Saint James. For the first few years back in Saint James, Carl worked as a carpenter and repaired many a buildings in this town. But once again his love for trucking took him back to the road. He went to work for Haugen Trucking in Madeila for many years. He then came back to Saint James and drove for the Runge company for many years.

In 1985, Carl spent a year or so on the west coast. When he returned to Saint James he went to work for Gary Sturm and the Super 8 Motel. Carl was the handyman for almost all of Saint James. He was known by all and loved by everybody, not an enemy to be found.

In his retirement years, Carl made it a point to visit the local VFW every day at 3pm. He and Theresa (and sometimes Oscar) stopped by to have a cocktail, visit with friends and watched Family Feud or Jeopardy and we are told the subtitles on "Carl's TV" will forever remain. During Carl's lifetime, some of his favorite things to do were to ride motorcycle, build things (he was a great carpenter), he loved to dance (people would clear the dance floor to watch him and Vickie dance, and he also loved to play pool.

Carl is survived by the love of his life of 37 years, Theresa Wollschlager; their dog, Oscar (one of many); brothers, Dan and his wife Margaret of Mountain Lake and Ted from Mountain Lake; 2 daughters, Brenda Janzen of Grand Island, Nebraska and Kim and husband Gary Barnes from Belle Plaine, Minnesota; son, Jay Janzen and fiancé Tosha Mattison of Saint James; 7 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Gloria Thulien; many nieces and nephews; best friend, Gary Sturm and wife Joyce of Saint James; and his VFW Family, Jen, Mason, Callie, Nate, Briana, Tony, Julie and countless "V" Friends.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his older brothers, Ben and his wife Vesta, Dave and his wife Wendy; and his sister-in-law, Marge Janzen.

Carl always did things on his terms and time, the same way he left this world, without saying a word and swiftly, in true Carl fashion. It's 3 o'clock somewhere.