Willis Wayne Janssen

He was born on Jan. 21, 1928, as the fifth and final child of Amanda and Behrend Janssen on their farm in Buckley, Illinois. As the gregarious and mischievous baby of the family, Willis earned the nickname “Sour Apple” from his siblings before becoming commonly known as “Bill” for the remainder of his life.

Bill met his lifelong soulmate after delivering what must have been an intensely moving 10th-grade play performance, capturing the heart of eighth-grade audience member Betty Jean Landes. Bill credited his red hair and handsome face for this love-at-first-sight reaction from the young lady who would later become his wife. While he waited for Betty’s parents to allow her to date, Bill excelled at high school sports, including baseball and basketball.

After graduating from high school, Bill enlisted in the Navy. He served during the Korean War on the U.S.S. William K. Perry (DDR-883), a Geary Class Destroyer, from Dec. 7, 1948, to Nov. 26, 1952. Bill was part of the Fire Control team and obtained his private pilot’s license while in the service. When he returned to Buckley, he and Betty gave themselves another year of courtship to make sure they actually wanted to get married. Turns out, they did, and they wed in 1953. Betty lived her dream as a nurse and Bill graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1956 and a Master of Science degree in 1957.

Throughout the 66 years of marriage Bill and Betty shared before her death in 2019, they raised four beloved sons – Ben, Dale, Mark and David – taking them along as they built their lives in Illinois, California, Montana and finally Colorado. Bill worked for the U.S. Forest Service in California and Montana and for Colorado State University after their final move. He “retired” in 1995 and spent his final years doing his favorite hobbies for as long as he could, including playing basketball in the Senior Olympics, flying, traveling, fishing, bowling, playing cards with his sons, and having breakfast and coffee with his local friends.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and son Ben, and is survived by his sons, Dale Janssen and wife, Cindy; Mark Janssen and wife, Tina; and David Janssen and wife, Melonie, who all continue to live in Northern Colorado. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and a growing number of great-grandchildren. Bill was also a beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in Bill’s honor on Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church of Eaton, Colorado, with a luncheon to follow at the Ault VFW. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to be distributed by the family to his favorite charities.