Janae Evelyn Ehlen

Janae Evelyn Ehlen, 85, of Evansville, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 1, 2024, at Evansville Care Center in Evansville, MINNESOTA. She was surrounded by her loving husband, Gerald and other family. 

Janae was born February 8, 1939, in Paynesville, Minnesota to Gilbert and Evelyn (Miller) Hunt. She attended two years of country school before attending the rest of her primary grades at Paynesville Public School.  After moving to Morris in the 7th grade she attended Morris Public High School and graduated in 1956.

Janae met the love her life, Gerald Ehlen, in the spring of 1955 after he saw a beautiful brunette walking home from a school activity and offered her a ride home. They were married on September 7, 1957, at the Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. They lived in Morris until moving to their home in Evansville in 1965. One of her first jobs was as an operator at for Northwestern Bell. Janae worked there from 1957 until they went to dial in 1963.  She started doing daycare in Evansville in1976 and raised not only her own six children but many other children as if they were her own until her retirement in 1999. 

Janae enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, knitting, reading, puzzles and most of all spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Janae had a servant’s heart, always putting the needs of others before her own. Her children will always remember her as being selfless, loving, patient, kind and providing the best home cooked meals.

Janae is survived by her husband, Jerry, of over 66 years, her six children: Tom (Pam), Robert (Satoko), Richard (Carol), Judy (Greg) Noth, Jean (Richard) Loehlein, Elizabeth (Ryan) Jennissen; sixteen grandchildren: Samuel (Sarah), Emily (Nick), Brandon, Michael, Grace, David, Timothy, Brett, Alicia, Phillip, Olivia, Joseph, Will, Jacob, John, and Selah; three siblings, Gladys Scheelk, Audrey (Jerry) Cline, and Wayne (Bianca) Hunt, and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, three siblings: Darlene (Lowell) Lueck, Melvin Hunt, and Eileen Nohl. 

 A visitation will be held on Monday, April 8 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Brandon, MN, from 9:30 -10:45 a.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 a.m.  Father Jeremy Theis will be officiating.

Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Morris, Minnesota at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9^th.