Ila Jean Jahns

Ila Jean Jahns, age 85, of Princeton, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Martha’s Assisted Living Residence.  God called her to her eternal home where so many of her family went before her.  She was born November 4, 1933, in the township of Buffalo, Marquette County, the first daughter of Arnold C. and Lola M. (Hunter) Whirry.  She was nine years old, the oldest of four children, when her mother died following childbirth.  Ila grew up on the family farm between Montello and Kingston.  She attended country grade schools and graduated from Montello High School in 1951.  Ila married Wilbert Jahns on August 27, 1955, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Princeton.  This union was blessed with two lovely daughters, Renee and Julie, who brought much joy and pride into her life.  Ila loved her work as a certified medical assistant.  She was employed by Dr. O.E. Meyers of Kingston for 10 years, Dr. Frank McNutt of Princeton for 10 years, Dr. Richard Gubitz of Berlin and Princeton for 1 year and then Berlin Memorial Hospital from 1987 to her retirement on September 1, 2004.  She had a great love for music, dancing and sang in the church choir for many years.  Ila spent lots of time sewing for herself and her two daughters as they grew up.  Her two grandchildren, Derek and Ashley, were a great joy to her, some of her best memories.  Ila was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary unit 0366 of Princeton. 

Those Ila leaves behind to cherish her memory include her two daughters, Renee Kay (Rocky Luft) Ristau of Oshkosh, Julie Lynn (Barry) Mashuda of Princeton; 2 grandchildren, Derek (Taylor Sina) Mashuda, Ashley (Devin) Petit; 3 great grandchildren, Payton, Cheyenne,  Brayden Petit; sister-in-law, Betty Whirry; 3 nieces, Becky (Kevin) DeVries, Shannon (Gary) Kiernan, Dionne (Matt) Lundh; 3 nephews, Tracy Whirry, Robert Whirry, Thomas Schroeder; uncle, Gerald (Darlene) Hunter; many other relatives and friends as well as nine Godchildren.  Ila was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Wilbert,  who passed on February 9, 2002; her parents, Arnold C. (Marsh) Whirry and Lola M. (Hunter) Whirry; her grandparents, Wallace and Winnie (Morgan) Hunter, Hiram and Mary (Kranger) Marsh; sister, Nancy (Whirry) Schroeder at age 32, in an auto accident; 2 brothers, Russell Whirry at age 45 and William Whirry at age 68, both of lung cancer; granddaughter, Cassie Mashuda, still-born; brother-in-law, Tom Schroeder; nephew, Theodore Schroeder; 3 aunts, Mary Smith, Irmagard Hunter, Mary Jane Hunter; uncles, Melvin, Elwin, Ray and Eddie Marsh, Harold Hollar, Vern, Jack, Wayne and James Hunter, Sievert Smith and others; special aunts, Winnie Whirry, Nellie Marsh, Leona Hollar, Grace Hunter; cousins, Deeana Smith, Paul Hunter, Jady Hunter and Gary Hunter; mother-in law and father-in-law, Frieda and Fred Jahns.  Frieda and Ila had a special relationship, as Ila cared for her in her later years until her death at nearly 95, in 2002.  Last but not least, her very special friend and companion, Herman Schultz.  They had known each other for twenty-seven years prior to getting together to spend their later years together with love and respect.

A funeral service for Ila Jean Jahns will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 226 S. Clinton St., in Princeton.  Pastor John Stelter will officiate.  Ila will be laid to rest following the service at Memory Hill Cemetery in Princeton.

The family of Ila Jahns would like to thank the staff at Martha’s Inc. of Princeton and Generations Hospice for the compassionate care given to Ila.

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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