Jeanette Edith Minkel

Born in Minneapolis on June 1, 1926, Jeanette lived a thoughtful life centered around family, church, friends, meaningful work, and the music she loved.

Jeanette was a lifelong learner. After graduating from Edison High School in Minneapolis, she continued her education through North Park College, Colorado State College, and Lansing Community College, earning credits well into her 40s. She deeply valued education and never missed a chance to correct our grammar, whether we asked for it or not!

In the early years of their marriage, Jeanette and her husband lived abroad, including two years in Guatemala and one year in Venezuela with their young family. They brought a child from Venezuela to live in the U.S. for a year and helped sponsor a Guatemalan family to build a life in America.

Even while raising five children on her own, Jeanette gave her kids every opportunity she could, signing them up for lessons, camps, church programs, and classes. She made it happen and was there for all of it—recitals, wrestling meets, concerts, and more.

Jeanette worked at Michigan State University for over 30 years, first in the College of Education and later as the administrative assistant in the College of Music’s Orchestra Office, where she became a mentor and mother figure to many students. After retiring, she worked at JCPenney until her late 80s and continued assisting her former orchestra director from home into her 90s.

Jeanette’s love of music ran deep. She sang and played piano throughout her life. She was a soloist at The Peoples Church and sang in the MSU Choral Union, the Steiner Chorale, and the chancel choirs at both The Peoples Church and Okemos Community Church. She raised her children in the church, making sure they had opportunities to be involved in choir, youth group, confirmation, and volunteer service.

She didn’t stop there. She led with quiet strength as president of Lansing Matinee Musicale and showed up, week after week, as a faithful volunteer in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and senior centers. Faithful, full-hearted, and generous to the core—that’s who she was.

Her greatest joy was her family. She loved nothing more than gathering everyone together for the holidays, and she kept traditions alive with intention. Especially when it comes to birthdays. If you were part of her family, you knew your day would be remembered and celebrated. Her loyalty to friends spanned decades.

Jeanette is survived by her five children: Thomas Minkel (Jackie), Sandra Topper (Jim), Theresa Giroux (Tom), Lorraine Ware (Phil), and Joanna Hogan. She was a devoted grandmother to eleven and a proud great-grandmother to eight, with a ninth on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Enoch Borgstrom and Anelia Marie Person Borgstrom; her siblings, Evelyn Borgstrom, David Borgstrom, and Ruby Angle; and her former husband, Clarence W. Minkel.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 14 at 2 p.m. at The Peoples Church in East Lansing. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jeanette’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a gift in Jeanette’s memory to Hospice of Lansing, whose gentle care in her final days meant so much. Donations can be sent to: Hospice of Lansing, 3411 Stoneleigh Dr., Lansing, MI 48910 or made online at www.hospiceoflansing.org