Janelle Joan (Johnson) Nevermann, 84, of Mason City, Iowa, died Aug. 11, 2020, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services were private. Visitation was held Aug. 16, 2020, at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Interment was held in the Elmwood St.-Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N Pennsylvania Ave., or a charity of your choosing. Online condolences may be shared at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

Janelle was born on Feb. 4, 1936, in Clarion, Iowa, the first child of four of Ervin M. and Leonora R. (Olsen) Johnson. She grew up on a farm near Belmond, Iowa, and attended a country school through sixth grade. Janelle graduated from Belmond High School in 1954 as the valedictorian of her class.

Janelle matriculated at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1954, where she met her future husband, LeAllen Nevermann ‘58. After two years at Luther she taught two years in Dows, Iowa. During those two summers she attended classes at Luther and then became a full time student there again. Janelle graduated from Luther ranking number one scholastically in the 1959 class.

Janelle married LeAllen Nevermann ‘58 on May 17, 1959. They spent the first year of marriage living in a one room, cold water apartment in Germany while Le was serving in the U.S. Army. During the first five years of their marriage due to Le’s military recall they lived in five different locations primarily in Milwaukee, finally settling in Mason City in 1963 where they have lived ever since. They were blessed with two sons, Brian and Stuart.

Janelle was a teacher. As well as teaching in Dows; she taught GED classes for G.I.s and at the dependents school in Dolan Barracks, Germany; and in Mason City, English-as-a-second-language, alternative school, and many years as a substitute teacher. Janelle was very active in her church, Trinity Lutheran in Mason City. She was a longtime Sunday School teacher, a circle member, a God Squad volunteer, a board of education member, and KCMR board member. She was also active with Habitat for Humanity, People’s Food Co-Op, and a Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank volunteer.

Organic gardening was a passion of hers. There was always a compost pile; in early spring containers in the house with seeds, seedlings, and little plants for the upcoming season; and in the winter, anticipation for seed catalogs coming in the mail.

Travel and sports were also interests of Janelle. She and her family visited all 48 contiguous states and the nations of Colombia, Canada, Mexico, plus many European countries. In 1989, Janelle and Le spent several days in East Germany when it was behind the iron curtain and Berlin Wall.

Sports were another interest, especially baseball and basketball. She and her husband were like fixtures at the Mason City High School Gymnasium and Roosevelt Field when the Mohawks were playing at home.

Janelle is survived by her husband, LeAllen Nevermann ‘58; her son, Brian Nevermann; sister, Ardith (Johnson) Jenison ‘59; brothers, Ervin Johnson ’64 (Liz), and Gordon Johnson ‘64 (Jeri); several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Janelle was preceded in death by her son, Stuart; parents, Ervin M. and Leonora (Olsen) Johnson; brother-in-law, Marlin P. Jenison; nephew, David P. Jenison; niece, Jolynn (Jenison) Schrage and parents-in-law, Freddie H. and Lorene M. Nevermann.

Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401, 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com

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