Garret Jansma

Garret was born February 14, 1938, the middle son of Cornelius & Jessie (Wierenga) Jansma in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. He immigrated to Wisconsin when he was nine years old. His family eventually moved to the Grand Rapids, Michigan area where he met Marcia Hovinga. They married on March 29, 1963 and moved back to Wisconsin. The couple built their first home in Waupun and later remodeled other homes as their family grew to include six children.

Garret had a variety of jobs and interests. He was proud to serve in the US Army National Guard for a few years. He worked most of his life in Waupun at Carnation Can Company (later known as Silgan Containers) in a variety of roles. Garret loved being outdoors; he had a passion for all growing things and found ways to plant flowers and vegetables in any nook and cranny of his yard. He also was a woodworker and loved to problem solve and do any “fixing up” that was needed. Garret also enjoyed frequent road trips to “Amish country” and to attend the many sports, school, and church programs of their children and grand-children.  

His most beloved activity was sharing his Christian faith. Garret served in various church capacities during his lifetime, both as an Elder and as a Sunday school teacher. He always had a tract in his pocket and a desire to share “The Good News” with anyone who would listen. He loved to sing hymns and burst into song at any moment. He enjoyed singing with his brothers, as well as with the Friesland Men’s Chorus. This desire to share the gospel extended to prison ministry. Garret and his wife volunteered with Crossroads Prison Ministries, serving as correspondence mentors and in other prison ministries. All who met him knew his desire was to make God known and glorified.

Garret is survived by his wife, Marcia Jansma; children: Anita (Dan) Holdridge of Pickett, Karen Diederich of Fond du Lac, Kurt (Kim) Jansma of Sioux Center, IA, Julia (Alan) Walton of Beaver Dam, and Joyce (Rob) Abel of Oshkosh; grandchildren: Nick (Terra) Holdridge, Alex (Casandra) Holdridge, Jon Holdridge & fiancée Ashlyn Gurkowski, Erin (Matt) Johnson, Allison Diederich, Caleb Diederich, Justin (Courtney) Jansma, Elissa (Devin) De Jong, Jesse (Emma) Jansma, Levi Jansma, Colten (Kayla) Van Hierden, Damon Van Hierden & fiancée Melissa Nelson, Ashley (Alex) Heinen, Brienna (Ryan) Van Maanen, Shayla (Marcus) Graf and dear family friend, Jason Krajenka; step-grandchildren: Emily (Charlie) Harmer, Owen (Nicole) Walton, and Hannah Walton; 15 great-grandchildren with 3 “on the way”; 4 step-great-grandchildren; brothers: Norm (Shirley) Jansma, Wilbert (Carol) Jansma, both of Waupun; sisters-in-law: Catherine Jansma of Waupun, Gladys Jansma of Waupun, and Jane (Hovinga) Maurer of Allendale, MI.

Garret was preceded in death by his parents: Cornelius Jansma and Jessie Wierenga; a son, Joel Jansma; infant brother, Jelle Jansma; and brothers: Louis Jansma and Charley Jansma; two brothers-in-law: David Hovinga and Terry Maurer; and sister-in law, Shirley Hovinga.

Funeral services for Garret Jansma will be held Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 12 noon at Werner-Harmsen Funeral Home in Waupun with Rev. Paul Freswick officiating. Burial will follow at Alto Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call on the family on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.