The Mass of Christian Burial for Norman Jahnke of Deer Creek was celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday October 24, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bluffton, with Father Gabriel as celebrant.

  Norman, age 87, passed away of natural causes on October 19, 2023, at his home near Deer Creek.

  Norman Eugene Jahnke was born to Edgar Sr and Leona (Sperling) Jahnke on May 13, 1936, in Frazee, Minn.

  He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Frazee High School with the Class of 1955.  On May 13, 1963, his 27th birthday, Norman married Bernice Ann Buettner at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bluffton.  His livelihood was in carpentry for 12 years and with the tasks of farming until 2000. He found time to be a member of the Deer Creek Lions Club and served as the Deer Creek Township board chairman since 2000.  Norman was an outdoorsman who hunted, fished, and gardened. He also did woodworking and attended farm auction and church dinners with family and friends.  He especially looked forward to time spent with his grandchildren. He was proud of his five boys by frequently saying, “You guys all done good, I’m glad!”  Whenever Norman needed to call his sons he’d have his own version of caller ID by stating, “Hey, this is Dad.” even though their cell phone indicated it was him calling!

  Preceding Norman in death were his parents, Edgar and Leona; sisters, Doris and Carol Jahnke.

  Surviving Norman are his wife, Bernice; children: Eugene (Colette) Jahnke of Ottertail, Scott (Vicki) Jahnke Mike (Yvette) Jahnke both of Wadena, Steve Jahnke of Sartell, Minn. and Randy (Nikki) Jahnke of Verndale; grandchildren: Kayla Jahnke, Trent Jahnke, Ryan Jahnke, Autumn Syverson, Marissa Jahnke and Tyler Jahnke; along with siblings; Edgar Jahnke Jr, Marlin Jahnke, and Joanna (Tim) Alcott.

  Honorary pallbearers were the Deer Creek Lions.

  Serving as pallbearers were Norman’s grandchildren.

  Burial was in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Bluffton.

  Arrangements with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services’ Johnson-Schuller Chapel, Wadena. (www.SchullerFamilyFH.com)