Alphonse "Pete" Jansen Jr.

Alphonse “Pete” Jansen Jr., age 72, of Yankton, South Dakota and formerly of Fordyce, Nebraska, died on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, on Friday, July 31, 2026 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fordyce, Nebraska with Reverend Eliot Schwer officiating. Burial will be in the St. John the Baptist Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, on Thursday, July 30 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fordyce with a vigil service at 7:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.

Pallbearers are Jim Jansen, Bill Jansen, Nick Odens, and Brian Hochstein.

Alphonse “Pete” Jansen Jr. was born October 12, 1953 in Yankton, South Dakota to Alfonse Sr. and Myrtle (Haberer) Jansen. He grew up on a farm north of Fordyce, attended grade school in Menominee and graduated from Crofton High School in 1971. In August of 1971, Pete met the love of his life at a Bow Valley dance and married Bonnie Leise on June 1, 1974. To this union, three children were born: Chad, Anita and Kyle. They first lived in Madison, NE where Pete worked for the county and then in the service department at the Ford dealership. In 1981, they moved to Hartington and then to Fordyce in 1984. Pete worked for Hydraulic Components in Hartington, then as a machinist at Applied Engineering in Yankton for many years. His declining health forced him to go to part-time and Pete worked for Ehresmann Engineering until he had to completely retire. Throughout the years, Pete also loved helping his brother, Art on the farm. In 2021, Pete and Bonnie moved to Yankton.

Pete had a passion for cars. He was all Ford and loved working on them in his garage. He was a handyman who could fix about anything. Pete was a man who was happy with the simple things in life. He loved watching any nature show on television and was a diehard Husker football fan. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, talking with his neighbors, going on a drive out in the country and visiting with high school friends. Pete was a man of patience who dealt with many years of kidney issues and was blessed to have three kidney transplants, including one from a very special neighbor.

Pete is survived by his wife, Bonnie Jansen of Yankton; three children: Chad Jansen of Parker, SD, Anita (Adam) Hladky of Volin, SD and Kyle (Megan) Jansen of Fordyce, NE; four grandchildren: Kenzie and Alex Hladky, Grayson and Mason Jansen; three siblings: Art (Twila) Jansen of Menominee, NE, Ruth Arens of Fordyce, NE and Deb (Dale) Souhrada of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Kenneth Arens; and nephew, Kris Arens.