Jeanette “Jenny” O’Hara

Friday, September 1, 2017 1:11 pm

Jeanette “Jenny” O’Hara, 88, of Decorah, died Thursday morning, Aug. 31, 2017, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with Rev. Stacey Nalean – Carlson officiating. Organist was Paul Bruvold. Hymns were “The Old Rugged Cross,” “In the Garden,” “Abide with Me” and “On Our Way Rejoicing.” Casket bearers were her grandsons: John Russ Stodgell, Conrad Stodgell, Thomas Stodgell, Jeremy Larson, Christopher Larson, Eric Larson and Jeff Larson. Honorary casket bearers were her granddaughters: Kristen Quayle, Jessica Emerson and Karen Clark. Burial was in Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation began at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, one hour before the service, at Fjelstul Funeral Home. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Sylvia Jeanette was born March 15, 1929, the daughter of Ernest and Esther (Egge) Anderson, at home on her grandpa Egge’s farm. She was baptized April 7, 1929, and confirmed Oct. 29, 1942. She received her education in both Iowa and Minnesota schools and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1946. She received her LPN from the Chicago School of Nursing.

She married Selmer Larson June 14, 1947, at First Lutheran Church. They became the parents of six children.

Jenny did numerous jobs and held various positions. Her most prized was many years in the nursing profession. She started the Howard County Homemaker Health Aid program, worked with Selmer in D.H.I.A and started a business with her son, Chuck, for 13 years. She served in the church choir, was a Sunday school teacher and served on the Church Council and in the Circle and Ladies Aid. She was a Farm Bureau Chairman and a member of the WaTanYe Club.
Selmer passed away June 12, 1996. She married John O’Hara Aug. 21, 1999. John and Jenny lived in Decorah.

She is survived by her husband, John; four children: Chuck Larson of Waukon, Steve (Jean) Larson of Livermore, Deanne (John) Stodgell of Mt. Pleasant and Thomas (Karen) Larson of Richfield, Minn.; as well as five step-children: Peggy (John) Sparrgrove, Kayleen (Jerry Gray) Kinnison, Patsy (Mark Hageman) O’Hara, Roger (Katrina McCabe) O’Hara, and Keri (Tim) Sand; 25 grandchildren: Kristen (Jim) Quayle, Michael Poole, Jeremy Larson, Jessica (Matt) Emerson, Christopher Larson, Eric (Becky) Larson, Karen (Dallas) Clark, Jeff (Shawna) Larson, John Russ Stodgell, Conrad Stodgell, Thomas Stodgell, Rachel Larson, Sarah Larson, Ryan (Brianne) Sparrgrove, Amanda Sparrgrove, Joshua Sparrgrove, Travis Sparrgrove, Mikayla (Jorge Maya) Kinnison, Colten (Meghan Kerrigan) Kinnison, Jesse (Alyssa) Halweg, Jenna (Scott Cole) Halweg, Montana Bohr, Calvin Bohr, Zack Benda, Desiree Benda, Addyson Sand, Isabella Sand, and Gabrielle Sand; and 22 great-grandchildren: Mike Woodruff, Lexie Hobson, Brianne Rice, Cameron Emerson, Jacob Larson, Connor Larson, Dane Clark, Camden Clark, Hazel Clark, Eddie Larson, Charlotte Larson, Logan Larson, Kendra Larson, Gabriel Stodgell, Hendrix Stodgell, Dillion Sparrgrove, Blake Sparrgrove, Chloe Sparrgrove, Taylor Sparrgrove-Nelson, Brekin Halweg, Brinley Halweg and Grayson Benda.

Jenny was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Esther Anderson; her sister, Hazel Olson; two children, Dean Larson and Sandra Coats; and her first husband, Selmer.