Saturday, January 15, 2022 ~ 10:00 a.m.
First Lutheran Church ~ Fremont, Nebraska
Interment at Hollst Lawn Cemetery ~ Yutan, Nebraska
*The funeral will be live-streamed on Svoboda Funeral Home Facebook page.
Friday, January 14, 2022 ~ 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Svoboda Funeral Home ~ Wahoo, Nebraska
Mead Public Library
316 S. Vine Street
Mead, NE 68041
First Lutheran Church
3200 E. Military Avenue
Fremont, NE 68025
Janet “Jan” E. Behrens, 85 of Mead, NE, passed away Monday, January 10, 2022 at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln. She was born December 4, 1936 in Wahoo, NE to Herbert and Eleanor (Starmann) Karloff. Jan graduated from Yutan High School and then went on to business school.
She was united in marriage on September 17, 1955 to Gayle E. Behrens at St. John Lutheran Church in Yutan. She worked as a teller at 1st National Bank in Wahoo and as a farmwife.
Jan was a member of First Lutheran Church in Fremont, the Wahoo Saddle Club, the Twirling Eights Square Dancing Club for many years and she volunteered at the Mead Public Library. She enjoyed baking, gardening, crafting, sewing, and sharing a cup of coffee with friends.
She loved summer visits from her family and she always enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities.
Jan is survived her children: Melissa (John) Young of Elkhorn, Kevin (Alice Jane) Behrens of David City, and Julie (Jack) Klosterman of David City; twin brother, Jim (Helen) Karloff of Hastings; grandchildren: Travis (Jaclyn) Kehr, Tyler Kehr, Kimberly Cook, Emily Young, Malachi (Tara) Behrens, Hannah (Curt) Softley, Seth (Kara) Behrens, Ruth (Lucas) Briggs, Elise (Adam) Brown, Hank (Molly) Klosterman, Mary Klosterman, and Caitlin (Will) Suter; 12 great-grandchildren and two on the way; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert & Eleanor Karloff; husband, Gayle Behrens; sister, Carol (Burneil) Ecklund; great-grandson, Samuel Softley.
A life well lived for the Lord and a dear friend.
Melissa, Kevin and Julie, I was saddened to hear about your mom’s passing. She always brought a sense of joy when with her. Your dad and mom were great people and their memories continue to bring a smile to my face. May God give you comfort and peace as you celebrate your mom’s life and new life in heaven.
so sad to learn of Janet’s passing. Did not expect it so soon after her birthday.
She was always upbeat and positive.
Our deepest sympathy to all her friends and family.
Our deepest sympathy.
We extend our sympathy to you. We are thankful we were able to get to know Jan and Gayle through our couples’ Bible study at church. They were great people and were a blessing to others in so many ways. Jan was always proud of her children and their families and we know she was a special mother and grandmother.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, Melissa, Kevin, Julie and families. Sorry to hear about your mom’s passing, we know she will be missed! She was a wonderful, joyful person to be around always! We have lots of fun memories. Especially glad you had the 85th Birthday party for her and we were able to enjoy that time with her.
Our Deepest Sympathies to you all! She was such a patient and pleasant woman! Love, Hugs and Prayers to you All!
I am so sorry for your family’s great loss. I always enjoyed time spent with her. Cherish your many precious memories. Love, hugs and lots of prayers.
Such a lovely lady! Her sense of humor always made me laugh! She will be missed by all associated with the library!
So very sorry the loss. Sending Sympathy to the family.
Melissa, Kevin and Julie, I am so sorry to hear about your mom’s passing. I have so many fond memories of going to the farm on Memorial Day. Sending my condolences as I need to miss the visitation as I am quarantining. Prayers are with you all.
We are so sorry to learn of Jan’s passing. She was a blessing to our circle and others at First Lutheran. We have missed her sweet smile and personality for some time now at church. Our condolences.
Our prayers for your whole family. She was always so kind and talked about her grandkids the last time we visited with her at my moms house. Truly a gem!
I am so sad and sorry, Janet was my dearest cousin, and I wish I could call her once more! Her kindnesses, love for her family, her cooking, hospitality, her “always ready to go and do”, her wonderful sense of humor! So thankful for her life well lived! My love, sympathies, and prayers to her family!
We are sorry to hear of your loss. Your mom was a dear, caring friend to our family and I have many great memories of fun, creative, thoughtful things she did for us. I’m sure going to miss her when I come home for visits. Love and prayers!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.Chuck and Doris
OUR GREATEST SYMPATHY TO YOUR FAMILY. JAN WAS A SPECIAL PERSON TO ALL.
TIM AND PAT PEHRSON
Dear family of Jan,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss.
I met Jan at First Lutheran many years ago &
enjoyed attending Bible Study with her. She
was devoted to her faith & family and was a
delightful lady.
Sincerest sympathy,
Eileen Thornburg
Our sympathies to all the family. Jan was such a wonderful kind and gentle woman. We know she will be greatly missed. We are thinking of all of you. God’s peace be with you.