William Gus "Bill" Janssen
William Gus (Bill) Janssen of Edna passed away Friday, December 11, 2020 after a brief illness.
He was born December 18, 1934 in Wharton County to Gus and Emma Priesmeyer Janssen. He was baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church in El Campo and graduated from Crescent High School. He married Freddye Ann Erdelt on January 27, 1958 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Hillje and they moved to Jackson County in 1969. He was a true steward of the land, working as a cowboy, farmer and rancher all his life and also as a farm chemicals and fertilizer salesman for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Freddye Ann, of Edna; daughters Leslie Janssen of Shiner, Lynette (Charles) Novak of Ganado, and Cheryl (Larry) Olsovsky of Victoria; sons Neal Janssen (Carol Cappadonna) of LaWard and Kevin (Christy) Janssen of Ganado as well as grandchildren Darren (Dakota) Novak, Jessica Novak (Eric Hawkins), Sarah Novak, Erin (Derek) Zarosky, Michelle Olsovsky, James (Hailey) Olsovsky, Emily (Jonathan) Soto, Scott Olsovsky, Hannah Janssen, and Molly Janssen; and great-grandchildren Ava and Emma Novak, Levi Johnson, Cullen Olsovsky and three due to be born next year. He is also survived by his sister, Marlene Hahn of Ganado, sisters-in-law Beatrice Netardus of El Campo and Bernice Erdelt of Palacios, and brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Janet Erdelt of Ashland, Massachusetts as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, sisters Leona Janssen, Dorothy Slezinsky, and Gloris Marek, parents-in-law Fred and Annie Erdelt, and brothers-in-law Eugene Netardus, Jerry Marek and Bobby Hahn.
Pallbearers were Darren Novak, James Olsovsky, Scott Olsovsky, Larry Carroll, Caleb Carroll, and Robert Clay Martin. Honorary pallbearers were grandchildren and grandchildren-in-law and the Tuesday Night Gentlemen’s Club. Visitation was Wednesday, December 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 17 at 10 a.m. All services were held at Oaklawn Funeral Home, 900 Navidad Street, Edna. Burial followed at St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Hillje, with the Rev. Andrew Schroer presiding.
Memorials may be made to Catholic Daughters Court of St. Theresa Scholarship Fund, PO Box 1082, Edna, Texas 77957
Arrangements under the direction of Oaklawn Funeral Home, Edna, 361-782-2221.