Michael Henry Janssen was born in Marshall, Minnesota, January 5, 1953 to Henry and Marie (Claeys) Janssen. His early years were spent in the Minneota area until 1966 when Hank, Marie and Mike moved to Yucaipa, CA. While still in school, Mike took a job working in the school bus garages, continuing with that until after his graduation from Yucaipa High School. Later, he had employment for many years as a driver for Schwanâs household food delivery followed by carpentry work. Mike could no longer work beginning in 2008 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent treatment for it. In February 2019 Mike decided to move back to his hometown of Minneota where he passed away at the age of 68 on April 13, 2021.
Mike had many sports interests, especially the former San Diego Chargers football team, and weekly Mike hosted friends to watch TV in his garage to cheer on their team. Mike was a loyal baseball fan of all teams, but most avidly supporting the Minnesota Twins. Another hobby of his was collecting Nascar memorabilia.
He is survived by his sons Josh Janssen and Ron Janssen of Calimesa, CA; brother, Jim Janssen of Minneota; sister Pat (Virg) Enevoldsen of Dawson; many Claeys and Janssen cousins; friends; and Dash, his companion pet of many years.
Preceding Mike in death were his parents Hank and Marie, grandparents Emil and Sophie Claeys and Nick and Kathryn Janssen; sister-in-law Kat Janssen; and niece Christy DeVries.