Jean P. “Jeanie” Godtland, 79, was called home to the Lord on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

She was born on Dec. 25, 1933, in Decoria Township, Blue Earth County, to Lloyd & Doris (Mann) Thrun. She was baptized and confirmed in Redeemer Lutheran Church, Blue Earth County. She graduated from St. Clair High School in the spring of 1951. In 1954, she graduated as a registered nurse from Naeve Hospital School of Nursing in Albert Lea. It was during nurses training that she was introduced to her future husband, LuVerne Godtland, by his cousin and Jeanie’s treasured friend, Grace VanProosdy. Jeanie and LuVerne were married on June 26, 1955, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, and celebrated their love story for over 58 years.

Jeanie’s varied career included clinical nursing at Fountain Lake Clinic; surgical nursing at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea; serving as a nursing instructor at Naeve Hospital School of Nursing; ER nursing at Austin Hospital; staff nursing at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea; nursing, supervising, and CD counseling at Fountain Lake Treatment Center in Albert Lea; and parish nursing at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she served as congregational president, church council member, and Sunday school teacher, and of the Naeve Alumni and Nurses’ Club.

Jeanie loved people and hearing their stories. She delighted in being with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandsons. She was an excellent teacher and advocate. Jeanie was a caring, nurturing friend, and she truly lived to serve. She was an avid reader, quilter and gardener, especially enjoying her 21 hydrangea plants. She was known for her huge heart, deep compassion, great cooking, endless hospitality, fantastic hugs, sense of adventure, and for always being the last person in the room to get a joke.

Her memory will be cherished by her husband; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Annette Godtland, Rochester; daughters and sons-in-law Julie and Doug Keran, Baxter, Naomi and Tim Tatarek, Eagan, and Gretchen and Terrance Anderson, Emmons; grandchildren Shane and Christine Keran, Brainerd; Leah and Josh Darst, Bloomington, Nate and Jamie Tatarek, Hanover, Bri Keran, Baxter, Zach Tatarek, Eagan, and Jonathan and Matthew Anderson, Emmons; great-grandsons Caleb and Adam Keran, Brainerd; sisters and brothers-in-law Janice and Jerome Seys, Mankato, Revé Krengel, Good Thunder, Lynn and Dale Reich, St. Clair, brother and sister in law Butch and Candy Thrun, Mankato, and brother in law Jerry Lewis, Mankato; sisters- and brothers-in-law Georgia Johnson, Lois Undahl, Dick and Sandy Godtland, Ron and Karen Godtland, Jeanette Godtland, all of Albert Lea, and Ollie Godtland, Benedict; godchildren; Lori Godtland, Audrey (Thrun) Winkler, Dawn Samuelson, Randy Skophammer, Robin Sailor, Mija Hood, Dan Godtland, Denise Plascencia many nieces and nephews, and other wonderful friends and relatives. She will be missed by several granddogs.

Her parents, former son-in-law, David Brekke, sister Patricia Lewis, brothers- and sisters-in-law Joe Krengel, Arnold Johnson, Glenn and Eleanor Godtland, Art Godtland Jr., Don and Dorothy Godtland, Ells Godtland, DeVerne Undahl, and Dale and Ruth Whiteis preceded her in death.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, with the Revs. Todd Walsh and Andrea Myers officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Home, Albert Lea, and at the church an hour prior to services. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Albert Lea.

Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church and Naeve Alumni and Nurses’ Club.

Arrangements are with Bonnerup Funeral Home.