Arlene Jerzak
Arlene Jerzak, age 83, of Porter, MN, passed away on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, in Porter, MN. Mass of Christian burial was Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, MN. Burial was in the St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery, Wilno, MN. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN, is entrusted with the arrangements.
We appreciate everyones’s thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of losing our parents; we will have the flowers and plants we received for Henry on display at Arlene’s service.
Arlene Joan (Reiners) Jerzak was born on April 1st, 1938, to Harm and Hannah (Rindahl) Reiners in Canby, MN. Arlene passed away surrounded by family. Arlene was baptized and confirmed at Zacchaeus American Lutheran Church in Canby, MN.
Arlene lived in Renton, Washington, for three years while her parents worked in the Boeing Aircraft assembly plant, and she attended her first years of school there. When the war was over, they moved back to Canby and lived on the family farm. Arlene attended District 42 in Oshkosh Township and continued her education at Canby High School, where she graduated in 1956.
On August 16th, 1956, Henry James Jerzak and Arlene were united in marriage at their church, St. John Cantius Catholic Church, and to this union, they were blessed with two daughters, Brenda and Becky. Arlene and Hank lived in Taunton, and in 1962, they started farming and also milked cows for 25+ years. Arlene enjoyed farming with Hank and was in charge of knowing where the tools were, the bookkeeping, meals in the fields, and anything else Grandpa needed! Arlene was an amazing cook and baker and spent a great majority of her life cooking and baking for others, especially during planting and harvest, making and delivering homemade meals for everyone helping in the fields. Arlene also worked in and ran Porter Café & Grocery for many years. Arlene loved flowers and gardening and enjoyed squirrel and bird watching as well. Arlene was a meticulous bookkeeper and enjoyed keeping all the farming records accurate. She had a great memory and could always remember where she kept everything. She will be greatly missed, but we all have memories to last a lifetime!
Grateful for having shared Arlene’s life are their two daughters, Brenda (Ron) Meulebroeck of Taunton, MN, and Becky (Tom) Noyes of Porter, MN. Brenda and Ron welcomed two daughters and their family, Renee (Mike) VanHecke and daughters, Melanie and Marisa, and Kari (Jeff) Bengford and three children, Max, Abby, and Ruby. Tom and Becky welcomed five children in their family, McKenzie (Ethan) Kack and child, Barrett, and Denver, Shane, Morgan, and Gavin. She is also survived by special family friends and neighbors, Deb and Mark Boulton and children, Jodi, Laura, and Michael; brother-in-law, Norbert Jerzak; sisters-in-law, Mary Knutson and Audrey and Frances Jerzak; nephew, Cory (Katie) and child, Peyton Reiners; and many more nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Henry Jerzak, who passed just nine days prior. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Harm and Hannah Reiners; brother, Allen “Al” Reiners; father and mother-in-law, Frank and Mary Jerzak; sisters-in-law, Irene Winters, Adeline Brown, Alice and Bernice Jerzak; and brothers-in-law, Raymond Brown, Tony Winters, Victor, Emil, Eugene, Andrew, Cyril, and Richard Jerzak; and nephew, Jason Jerzak.
Arlene was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Blessed be her memory.