Janene Lovgren

Jan. 9, 1936 ~ June 10, 2023

Clay Center resident Janene E. (Ockinga) Lovgren, 87, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023, at her home in Clay Center.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Clay Center Christian Church, with Rev. Arick Johanson officiating. Interment will follow at the Clay Center Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Janene E. (Ockinga) Lovgren was born in Hastings Jan. 9, 1936, to Fredrick E. and Mable F. (Davis) Ockinga. Janene was the oldest of five children born to Fred and Mable. She moved from Spring Ranch to Clay Center as a young child. She graduated from Clay Center High School in 1953 and stayed in Clay Center where she worked for her dad. Fred bought eggs, milk, and chickens from local farmers and resold the produce at Hastings. Janene would handle eggs and help separate the whole milk at the store in Clay Center, while she sold produce to the walk-in customers. She later worked at the local jewelry/pharmacy store with her brother Gordon until she became employed at the ASCS office in Clay Center where she was employed until her retirement.

Janene met a handsome young man from Harvard named Wayne L. Lovgren, and they were married after Wayne was discharged from the U.S. Army after spending a tour of duty in Korea. They were married on July 22, 1955. Two children were born to Wayne and Janene; Mark W. Lovgren on Aug. 30, 1959, and Eric T. Lovgren, Sept. 30, 1967. The couple made their home on a farm three miles west and one and one-half miles north of Clay Center. Wayne farmed and Janene would drive truck at harvest, take care of the household chores and take care of the children. After a few years in a cold farmhouse, Wayne and Janene moved to Clay Center, where they enjoyed the city life, and continued to farm. Later in life they enjoyed traveling and golfing as often as possible.

Janene’s health declined gradually for the past threeyears, and had been a resident at Providence Place in Hastings. Janene moved back to Clay Center at the end of May. Janene was lovingly cared for at her son and daughter- in-law, Eric and Kelly Lovgren’s home during her last days of life.

Janene was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne L. Lovgren; her father, Fred E. Ockinga; her mother, Mable F. Ockinga; siblings, Norma J. Burklund; Roger D. Ockinga and an infant; granddaughters, Jordyn Lovgren and Kiley Lovgren.

Left to mourn her passing are her sons, Mark W. Lovgren; Eric T. and wife Kelly Lovgren; siblings, Victor L. (Nicky) Ockinga; Gordon L. (Marge) Ockinga; grandchildren, Alexandra (Lexie) Lovgren; Laine Lovgren; Kayin Lovgren; Cale Lovgren.