Janel Marie Kjorness, age 63 of Tyler, passed away Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 at her home. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2 at First English Lutheran Church, 245 E. Hughes St., Tyler. Visitation will be one half hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Minneota at a later date. Online condolences may be placed at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tyler Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Janel Marie Kjorness was born March 7, 1949, in Marshall, Minnesota to Robert F. and Gloria B. (Wigness) Kjorness. She grew up in Minneota and Willmar, and graduated from Central High School in St. Paul in 1968. Born with Williams Syndrome, Nelly was known for her huge smile and friendly spirit. She ran in the Special Olympics in Los Angeles and received a medal. She moved to Redwood Falls in 1981 and to Marshall in 1986. In 1996, she moved to Tyler where she worked at Hope DAC. She was well cared for and loved by the DAC staff. Janel was a member of First English Lutheran Church. She loved all animals, especially cats. Janel enjoyed reading books about vampires and doing word search puzzles. She liked rock and roll music, especially Bon Jovi. In her younger years, she was known to enjoy a cherry sloe gin at the Lyndwood Bar and Lounge in Lynd.
Survivors include her sisters Nancy Swenson, Dorene Obi, Robin Chandler, and Karin (and Bob) Elton; nephews and nieces, Jeff, Mark, Kristin, Shawn, Adrian, Caitlin, Jacob, Rob, Cheyenne, and Vanessa; great-nieces, Amanda, Molly, and Aubrianna; and DAC staff and residents. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Bryan Swenson.
My thoughts and prayers are with Janels family, she was one special lady! She will be so missed at Hope D,A,C.
These last few months she never complained ,when asked how she was feeling her answer was always “GOOD”!
And oh, the most precious smile!!! Janel was a friend and encourager to all of us. She had a most contagious laugh and loved a good joke. She was a ray of sunshine!! I’m am blessed to have served her!!
It was always a joy to greet the cleaning crew from the Hope D.A.C. on Tuesdays at Hope Mutual and later to see them at the Post Office when they were cleaning there. Janel always had a smile and greeted with a friendly, “Hi Bevie!” She was special & made me feel so too.
My sympathy and prayers to the family of Janel.
Janel will be missed by everyone who knew her. Always a huge smile on her face and so eager to visit when they were finishing up cleaning at the Post Office. Her great attitude and friendliness will be remembered.
Janel was hip and cool and funny and friendly and could not wait for her new Rolling Stone magazine. We will miss her a lot at Tyler Public Library.