Jan. 5, 2017 – West Bend, WI – There was a nice service for Tom Jansen at Holy Angels Church in West Bend on Wednesday evening.
Reverend Jerome Repenshek presided over the Mass and Deacon Mark Jansen provided the gospel and the homily.
Jansen spoke about how this was “a celebration of Tom’s life.”
“It’s a time to rejoice. Tom’s life we know it ended so abruptly but Ruth reminded us of a comment she remembered from another homily about how minuscule our lifespan really is one compared to eternity.
“So we look at our lives and see how well we use the time we were blessed to have knowing full well that everything happens in God’s time.
“Tom was said to be a very soft-spoken person but even the soft-spoken person shouted. He shouted about how he loved his family.
“He shouted about how he loved his faith. He shouted about how he loved his community and his country and how he loved to give of himself to others. But he did not shout with his voice, he shouted with his actions.
“This soft-spoken and kind man made his life about serving others.
“Whether it was flipping burgers at the Holy Angels Festival while Ruth was at the cashiers table or working at Germanfest or in the kitchen for the KC fish fry – I daresay that everyone in this room has probably been fed by Tom and Ruth.
“Ruth remarked that in their 25 years of KC fish fries they might’ve missed five and two of those were for the funerals of Ruth’s parents.”
Close friend Joe Doherty provided some remarks of remembrance.
Tom was a man of few words. He cared deeply about children and was devoted to Ruth.
We vacationed, dined and golfed together. Five years ago we were in a couples scramble. Tom lived to play golf but he was not accomplished. He made the final putt and he danced around so much you would have bought he won the US Open.
Always at the ready to volunteer, Tom could build or fix anything. He was self trained and a tremendous problem solver.
Please remember this soft spoken and gentle man. Rest in peace my friend you will be missed.
Tom Jansen died Dec. 30, 2016. He was 77 years old.