Anna Ruth Jahnke

Anna Ruth Jahnke was born January 1, 1915 in Des Moines, Iowa to Edward and Bertha Jacobs. Anna attended school and high school in Alden and graduated from Alden High School in 1933. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Alexandria and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Alden.

Anna was united in marriage to Christian Jahnke "Cric" on December 10, 1936 at the Mansfield Church. Following their marriage Anna and Cric farmed in the Alden area for many years. In 1977, they moved to a home on Maple Lake near Alexandria, Minnesota. Along with the beautiful lake home, Anna and Cric owned a camper and they spent a lot of time fishing at Lake of the Woods and Gordon Lake in Ontario, Canada. Anna did a lot of fishing, but she preferred socializing at the campground, cooking, playing games, sitting around the campfire and making sure everyone else had everything they wanted. Anna and Cric also took trips to Texas and Florida.

Anna moved to Parkview Nursing Home in Wells, Minnesota in 2008. Anna quickly made this new place her home. She made friends with the residents and her caretakers and  was grateful for everything they did for her. She always told of the good care  and company she received from the nurses and aides at Parkview.

No matter where Anna was, family and friends were always welcome. The coffee pot was always on and great treats were available, courtesy of Anna. She was a kind and loving person with a great laugh and an optimistic outlook on life.  She even kept this positive attitude after losing her eyesight to macular degeneration and being confined to a wheelchair. Losing her daughter, Trudy Ann, was a great sorrow. But, she had a strong spiritual belief and accepted life's challenges graciously. Anna will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her son Ronald (Colleen) Jahnke of Alden;  son-in-law Thomas (Patricia) McMullen of Bloomington, MN; grandchildren Scott (Dena) Jahnke of Wells, Jonathan (Anne) Jahnke of Marshall Islands, Kelly Ann (Ross) Skov of Wells, Melissa (Todd) Swiler of Corcoran, Melanie (Bill Paul) McMullen of Orono and T.J. (Caroline) McMullen III of Golden Valley; 15 great-grandchildren; brother Donald Jacobs of Manchester; sister Deloris Jacobs of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.  

Anna was preceded in death by her parents; husband Christian Jahnke; daughter Trudy Ann McMullen; and siblings James, Marie Jahnke, Elmer, Albert, Dorothy Newman and Thelma Newman.