The Life of IRENE A JANSSEN
Irene A Janssen, 65, died Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was born Irene Anna Maria van Haeften on September 15, 1946 in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, to Albert van Haeften and Miesje (ten Ham) van Heaften. Her mother died January 5, 1947. Irene lived with relatives until 1951 when her father married Trudy De Pauw. Trudy was the only mother she knew. They moved to Toronto, Canada in April 1952 where Irene grew up. There were three other children in the family, Pieter, Miesje, and Bill. In 1964 Irene moved to the U.S. She was married in 1965. They ended up in Des Moines and in 1973 she became a U.S. citizen and had a daughter, Carol-Anne Dawson who died in 1988. In 1982 she married David Janssen. After he died, she continued to live in Des Moines. She then met Larry Sparks in 2004. They enjoyed life together traveling. Shortly after her stroke in 2007, they moved to Lynnville where he also became her caregiver.
Irene worked at what is now called CDS Global for almost 30 years. When she was medically retired in 2007, she was the Circulation Audit Manager. Irene loved working at CDS and was what you would call a workaholic. (Had a great boss!) She also enjoyed flower gardening (she would actually measure the distance between each plant with a tape measure and it had to be within 1/8”), going to car shows, home and garden shows, and spending time with friends and family. She was a very energetic, caring, and giving person that would do anything to help a friend.
Her memory is honored by Larry Sparks; sister, Miesje (Tom) Cremasco of Guelph, Ontario; brothers, Pieter van Haeften of Mississauga, Ontario and Bill (Wendie) van Haeften of Mexico; aunts and uncles, Wil and Joep ten Ham and Adri and Joop ten Ham of the Netherlands; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; Brenda (Mick) Denmark; ‘honorary’ grandsons, Adam and Nicholas Denmark; and many friends. Irene was preceded in death by her mother, Miesje; father, Akkie; stepmother, Trudy; daughter, Carol-Anne; husband, Dave; and nephew, Scott.