- Date Of Birth: October 1, 1928
- Date Of Death: May 3, 2020
- State: Arizona
Arlo Theodore Janssen
October 1, 1928 – May 3, 2020
Arlo Janssen was called home to the Lord on May 3. He had a varied career as a Lutheran Pastor, a college Professor, and, in his later years, as a well-known author of college texts and personal history. He was a committed Christian and lived his faith throughout his many associations with students and friends near and far and his interactions with his immediate and large extended family. Arlo was a person who valued greatly his personal, professional and family relationships and was an expert in bringing people together and making connections.
Arlo was the seventh child in a family of ten.
Teaching was a special gift of Arlo’s. He taught elementary school in Wisconsin and his book Grasslake Junction (2012) detailed his experiences during this time. He also spent 33 years at Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona as Professor of Speech and Debate.
In 1972 Arlo met the love of his life and married Ofelia Trevino. Together they enjoyed 48 years of marriage.
Arlo was preceded in death by his father, Pastor Ihno Janssen Sr., and mother Minnie Thormaehlen Janssen and he survived all of his nine Janssen siblings, including his four sisters Ruth, Adelheide, Anita and Marcia, and his five brothers Ihno Jr., Vernon, Immanuel, Daniel and Waldemar. He is survived by his wife Ofelia, his sons Andrew and Ted (Heather), his grandchildren Doug (Paivi), Sarah, David, Emily, Lucy, Adam, and great grandchildren Hanna, Elina, and Aimee. He also maintained regular contact and was well known for remembering the birthdays of many of his numerous Janssen nieces and nephews who were from all over the US.
Arlo never met a stranger. He shared his dry sense of humor and off-beat jokes with anyone who would listen. Whether he was in the pulpit or in the grocery store he passionately shared his love of God and genuinely cared for everyone he met. Those who knew him were familiar with his inability to say goodbye. Rather, his parting statement was, “God Be With You.
