Elaine Jahns

Elaine Marilyn Jahns, 78, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Calhoun County Medical Care Facility in Battle Creek, Michigan from Parkinson’s disease. She is now at peace in God’s presence and suffers no more earthly pain.  Elaine was born March 14, 1939 to Sherman and Florence (Peterson) Johnson at their home in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Lutheran Church. Elaine attended Albert Lea schools and graduated from high school in 1957. During high school, she played in the orchestra and worked as a car hop at the local A&W Drive-in. In her younger days, Elaine was a very athletic and skilled on ice and roller skates. After high school, she worked in Albert Lea for the Kroger Egg Company; then the Universal Milking Machine Company until her marriage. Elaine loved coffee parties, dancing and socializing with her friends. Most of all, she liked to travel to distant places and especially loved the western states. She took several trips with girl friends to California, the Seattle Worlds Fair and Hawaii.  In June 1963, Elaine met Tom Jahns of Albert Lea while he was home on leave from the Navy. On October 28, 1966, Elaine married Tom at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. During the 51 years of their marriage, they lived in Mankato, Minnesota; New Boston, Texas; Pueblo, Colorado where daughter, Carole, was born; Glasgow AFB, Montana and Battle Creek where son, Mike, was born. Elaine enjoyed traveling, exploring back roads and experiencing new people, places and things. Elaine loved being a wife, mother and friend to all; cooking and sewing; and hunting garage sale bargains. Holidays were special to Elaine and she loved to celebrate by decorating and cooking for guests. During 1990, Elaine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In July 2003, she entered an assisted living facility and moved in December 2009 to the Calhoun County Medical Care Facility.  Elaine is survived by her husband, Tom, of Battle Creek; daughter Carole (Jason) Woodward, grandson, Tyler, and granddaughter, Ella, of Okemos, MI; son Mike (Kelli) Jahns and grandson, Rylan, of Leroy Township, MI; sister Darlene (Dean) Wick of Holmen, WI;  niece DeAnda (Dennis) Levine of DeLavan, WI; nephew David (Terri) Wick of Onalaska, WI; mother-in-law Dorothy Jahns of Albert Lea; sister-in-law Marlene Nelson of  Albert Lea; sister-in-law Sue (Stadheim) Jahns of Florence, Arizona; and brother-in-law Rick and sister-in-law Dodie (Barris) Jahns of Gilbert, Arizona.  Elaine was preceded in death by her mother in 1984; father-in-law, Chester Jahns, in 1986; nephew Kenney Jahns in 1989; father in 2011; brother’s-in-law Clarion Popp in 2012 and Dan Jahns in 2015; and sister-in-law Kathy Popp in 2017.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2018, at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home in Battle Creek, MI, with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service. Cremation has taken place. At a later date, a memorial service will be held in Albert Lea. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or online at www.michaeljfox.org . Condolences may be left for the family at www.henryfuneralhome.org