Jeannette Hilda Dorthea (Schmidt) Jorgensen

   With profound sadness we announce the passing of our mother, Jeannette Hilda Dorthea Jorgensen.  She was a loving and devoted wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and a friend to all whose lives she touched.  On December 29, 2019, she left us while sleeping peacefully at Sunset Hospice surrounded by her family. She had just celebrated her 80th birthday in October and spent Christmas Day with her entire family together at Sunset Cottage.  She and David spent some special moments together praying and speaking on that same day.

   Born the eldest child to Raymond and Hilda Schmidt on October 17th, 1939 she witnessed incredible changes in her world.  Jeannette grew up on the farm, without in-house plumbing or television. In the week prior to her passing, she was playing “Words with Friends” on her iPad and tooling around Sunset Cottage in an electronic wheelchair. 

   She attended St. Paul Rost Lutheran country school through 8th grade and graduated from Okabena High School.  She went to Concordia Lutheran College in St. Paul, and for two summers went to Concordia Lutheran College in River Forest, Ill.  

   Her love for children lead her to teaching, first at St. John’s Lutheran school in Germantown, IA where she taught 4th through 6th grades.  This is where she met her loving husband, David Leroy Jorgensen. They were married on June 3, 1961 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rost MN township and shared 58 years of faithful marriage.

   Jeannette taught at several other schools, including West Elementary in Worthington, Crippled Children’s School and Immanuel Lutheran School in Lakefield.   Jeannette and David owned and managed a bowling alley in Hartley, IA.  She loved to work with and arrange flowers and worked at several local florist shops.  She proudly arranged flowers for her daughters’ and granddaughters’ weddings. 

   Jeannette provided licensed childcare in more than one community, where she impacted and helped shape the lives of many children.  She taught many area youth driver’s training, Behind the Wheel.  She was a past president and continued member of the Okabena American Legion Auxiliary, and was a member, secretary and regional President of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for many years.  

   She was the treasured wife of David Jorgensen and the beloved mother of Ann (Paul), Michael, Paula (Dave), Julie (Brett), Harlan (Stacie) and Tony (Jenni).  She was the cherished grandmother of Stephanie, Daniel, Ally, Dalton, Aaron, Jackson, Adam, Whitney, Haley, Jacob, Parker, Jace and Laiten and was the adored great grandmother of Lincoln, Maverick, Easton, Blake and Avia.  Predeceased by her son, Michael, and her brother, Curtis and parents – Raymond and Hilda Schmidt.  Survived by her husband David, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her siblings – Jewell, Ines, Edward and Marvin.

   Jeannette lived a full life as a wonderful wife, mother, teacher, and childcare provider, touching the lives of everyone she knew with her caring and thoughtful gestures and sense for adventures and learning. Many holidays and gatherings at their home saw added seats in the family circle for dear friends that were part of her extended family.

   She loved to play cards, fish, and bowl but most of all she loved her family and having them together and around her.  She instilled in her children strong values that serve them well. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.  As her grandson Parker recently wrote, “You were and always will be my everything.  You made such an impact on everyone’s life.  It’s crazy to think how much one person can change so many lives, just by being themself.  Nothing will be the same without you, but within us, you are here and always will be.  Fly high Grandma.  See you soon!  I’ll never forget, ‘What Would Grandma Do’ “

   A celebration of Jeannette’s life will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield, MN on Friday, January 10th beginning at 10:00am, with family available to visit.  The services will be at 11:00 am. Jeannette was a dedicated past president and continued member.   Ash Internment, next to her son, Michael and parents, will be at Rost Cemetary, rural Lakefield, weather permitting.

   Jeannette loved flowers but it was her wish that memorials be extended to an organization that “serves”, in lieu of flowers.  Sunset Hospice Cottage http://hospicecottage.com/contact/ at P.O. Box 203, Worthington, MN 56187 was chosen by Jeannette’s children as her memorial beneficiary.  Sunset provided so much comfort, contentment and peace in her final days and made those days so meaningful to her and to all of us. 

The Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington is assisting the family.

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