William Janssen

Memorials may be designated to the Mountain Lake American Legion Post. William John Bim Janssen Jr. was born December 2, 1913 to William J. and Anna (Janzen) Janssen in Huntington Park, CA. He lived with his parents and two sisters in a tent in the desert near Victorville, CA during his pre-school years. The family moved to Mountain Lake, MN, where Bim attended the Mountain Lake Public School. During his Junior year the family lived in Mankato, MN, and they returned to Mountain Lake, where he graduated from the Mountain Lake High School in 1931. Following high school he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp and served near Hovland, MN. On September 24, 1939 Bim was united in marriage to Adina Evelyn Stoesz at the EMB church in Mountain Lake. They made their home in the Mountain Lake Annex until Bim was drafted into the United States Army, and they moved to New York. Bim served in the military Postal Service on a ship. After his honorable discharge they moved back to Mountain Lake, where he served as Post Master until his retirement at the age of 55. He was a 63 year member of the Mountain Lake American Legion Post #389, he served as a guide at the Heritage Village, he enjoyed traveling and bird watching with his wife, and he also enjoyed crossword puzzles. Bim made a commitment to his Lord and Savior at the age of 94 and was Baptized by Rev. Robert Gardner at the Good Samaritan Village. Bim was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Adina Ev on January 28, 2009; and two sisters, Evelyn Franz and Ethel Hawkanson. He is survived by his brother-in-law, Joel (Verna) Stoesz of Mountain Lake; two sisters-in-law, Linda Perron of Phoenix, AZ and Norma Stoesz of Black Canyon City, AZ; three nephews, Martin (Arlene) Franz, Harold (Jeanette) Hawkanson and Stephen (Trisha) Franz; a niece, Doris (Ken) Heins; many other relatives and many friends.