Janice Lavonne Jorgensen

ST. ANSGAR – Janice Lavonne (Gottsch) Jorgensen, 96, of St. Ansgar, passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024. A private, family funeral will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, at the First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar. Burial will take place at the St. Ansgar Cemetery after the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity, the Salvation Army, or to the Wounded Warrior Project. Janice L Gottsch was born on October 26, 1927, to Ben and Florence Timperley Gottsch in Washington, Nebraska. She attended a small school in Washington, NE through the 10th grade. There were only three students in her class. She then attended and graduated from Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 16. She married Duane Jorgensen on February 9, 1947 after Duane returned from serving in the Marines in World War II. To this union four children were born: Dwight, Kenneth, John and Ann. Janice and Duane moved from Arlington, NE, to a farm outside of Stacyville, IA in 1955. They raised Cattle and farmed until they moved to St. Ansgar and started their family business, D.C. Jorgensen and Sons fertilizer plant in St. Ansgar. Prior to that, Janice worked at Wolf’s grocery store in Stacyville, Iowa, and at the PCA office in Osage, Iowa. Janice was an amazing mother and grandmother, as well as a wonderful cook and baker! She made everything from scratch, and her family was spoiled with her fresh bread, canned goods, pies, and “Goopy” cakes. She was also know for being a very accurate bookkeeper who worked at the fertilizer plant until she was 84 years old! In addition to spending time with her family, Janice enjoyed spending time with the many wonderful friends she made throughout her lifetime, as well as playing the organ and playing in the handbell choir at church. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Dwight Jorgensen of Casa Grande, AZ, Kenneth (Lynn) Jorgensen of St. Ansgar, IA, John (Jackie) Jorgensen of Ankeny, IA, and Ann (Mike) Powers of St. Ansgar; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; two great-great grandchildren, with one more on the way; nieces and nephews; and some very special friends. Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Jorgensen; parents Ben and Florence Gottsch; sister, Barbara Moran; mother and father-in-law, Christ and Minnie Jorgensen; brothers-in-law, Robert and Don Jorgensen; sister-in-law, Betty Lou Nicol; and one grandson Mark Jorgensen.