Jean Lofing

My mother, Jean Lofing passed away on December 7th, 2010. She was ninety-nine years old. She was a strong and determined woman. She witness the transformation of America....lived through the great depression of the thirties and like others at the time, met life head on.

She was responsible for sponsoring twenty-three Serbian refugees after the Second World War, all from Nazi death camps spread across Europe.. She signed for their financial well being and provide them all with housing and employment as required by State Department mandates. I can remember them coming to our home on their first day here. They came individually or some time in pairs. My mother would show them how to maker change from a dollar and explained as best she could the responsibilities of living in America. She was a river to her friends, always quick to give and offer help.

She was born into a immigrant family; her parents were Mr. & Mrs Peter Yankovich. They had arrived in this country with one son named Andrew who died in Mason City shortly after their arrival and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery. Eight more children were born after their first son died. There were 6 girls, Olga, Bertha, Jean, Helen, Evegeline, Marie and two sons, Michael and Robert. The only sister yet alive is Marie, the rest along with their two sons are deceased. My mother is survived by her niece Helen Schmidt as well as her sister Marie. There are numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

On April 10, 1932 my mother married Sidney Children. To that union one child was born, a son named Peter J. Children who was born on March 11, 1934. The marriage would later end in divorce. On December 20th, 1948 she married Henry Lofing in Austin, Minnesota. Henry died in 1977 after which she remained widowed for the rest of her life.

A private prayer service was conducted by Fr. Joseph Mirowski of the Eastern Transfiguration Orthodox church. Arrangements were conducted by Major Erickson Funeral Home. May her memory be eternal.