Elsie Marie Jorgensen Planz, 103, of Joaquin, passed away Friday, July 10, 2026, in Joaquin. She was born April 4, 1923 in Bassano, Alberta, Canada.

Her wishes were to be cremated.

Elsie Marie Jorgensen Planz grew up on a farm in the community of Make Peace, 75 miles east of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She had one sister and seven brothers. Her Dad worked as a farmer and a black smith. After high school she became an RN in Calgary, Alberta. Later, she attended a Lutheran Bible Institute for two years at Camrose, Alberta, following this with a missionary course for a year at the Lutheran Bible Institute at Minneapolis, Minnesota along with her sister Betty Ann.

Later, she took some classes at Dana College at Blair Nebraska, where she met John Planz. Elsie returned to Canada and the following year, on July 11, 1954, they were married at the Lutheran Church at Hussar, Alberta, Canada. (close to Elsie’s childhood home)

John completed his seminary studies at Fremont, Nebraska, and became pastor at rural Audubon, Iowa.

John and Elsie had two children, Rebekah and Daniel. Daniel passed away in their home in Titonka on December 27, 2016

After being pastor at various places, they came to Titonka, Iowa, to live with John’s father, William Planz.

Preceding her in death are her husband, John; son, Daniel; parents, Herman Jergenson and Olivia Mortisen Jergenson; sister, Annie (Betty Ann) Rollofson and husband Norris; brothers, Fred Jorgensen, Johnny Jorgensen and wife Pauline, Billy Jorgensen, Edward Jorgensen, Donald Jorgensen, Vernon Jorgensen; and great granddaughter, Rebekah Lesley.

Elsie had the opportunity to live a long, beautiful life full of many memories and great adventures with family and good friends alongside her husband John as they pastored varies congregations. He life passion which followed her until the day she passed away was to follow Jesus and serve Him.

The favorite scripture she wished to leave in her passing was:

John 11:25-26 - “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

As in the words of our Father/Grandfather John Planz every time he went to say goodbye:

The Lord bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Memorial donations may be made to Prison Fellowship, PO Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116-1550; Yael Eckstein International Fellowship of Christians And Jews, PO Box 97339, Washington, DC 20077-7472; Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21298-9832; or Parish 3 Immanuel Lutheran Church, 110 340th Street, Titonka, Iowa 50480.