Edwin DeWayne Jansen, 95, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at Mory's Haven in Columbus.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 16, 10:30 A.M. at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church with Father Mike Keating celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in the Columbus Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Gass Haney Funeral Home and on Friday from 9:30 – 10:30 A.M. at the church.

Edwin DeWayne Jansen was born February 4, 1919, in rural Creston, Nebraska, to Herman Fred and Dollie Adelpha (Stevens) Jansen. He graduated from Creston High School in 1937. On January 24, 1942, Edwin entered the U.S. Army. After basic training in the horse cavalry, he was assigned to be a member of the cadre for the 83rd Infantry Division. His infantry was part of the largest convoy to be sent to England at that time. Soon after D-Day, the unit went ashore on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. DeWayne earned the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation. He was honorably discharged on November 19, 1945.

DeWayne married Laura Dorothy VanDyke on October 17, 1942, in Columbus, Indiana. After returning to Nebraska in 1945, DeWayne farmed and worked as a substitute mail carrier in Creston. In 1955, he became a regular carrier and worked for the Post Office until his retirement in 1981. DeWayne was a member of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church and enjoyed dancing, gardening, and watching sports on TV.

DeWayne is survived by:
Daughter: Pamela (Myron) Leffers of Columbus, NE
Granddaughter: Lisa (Bob) Gdowski
Great Granddaughter: Jennifer (Jeff) Augustin
Great Great Grandson: Owen Augustin
Granddaughter: Erin (Shawn) McKee
Great Granddaughters: Caitlin and Maddison McKee
Daughter: Jill (David) Moss of Arvada, Co
Grandson: Zachary Moss
Son: Jeffrey (Kathy) Jansen of Luray, VA
Granddaughter: Billie Jo (Chad) Britton
Great Grandson: Cooper Britton
Grandson: Scott (Michelle) Jansen
Great Grandsons: Daren, Logan, and Austin Jansen

DeWayne was preceded in death by:
Parents: Herman Fred & Dollie Adelpha Jansen
Wife: Laura Jansen
Brother: DeForest (Luella) Jansen