Eldoris M. Jaunich, age 95 of Delano, was born October 2, 1925 on a farm near Montrose. She was baptized Feb 28th, 1926 and confirmed July 21st, 1939 at Mt Olive Lutheran Church in Delano, MN. Her years of service started at the young age of 12, babysitting for neighborhood children and cousins. At age 16, she cared for Dr. Grundset’s invalid wife in Montrose. At age 18 she went to the “big city” to work as a nanny for 5 years.

She married Wallace Jaunich, Feb 3rd, 1949 and raised 11 children. Nine boys and two girls (Extremely, well behaved girls). She would joke that she had her own baseball team with her 9 boys. Five of her sons served in the military and four of her Grandson’s also served our country. She had a huge garden, canning and freezing vegetables, making bread, etc., there were many mouths to feed. When all her kids were in school, she started driving school bus. But wait, she wasn’t done having kids. She was pregnant at age 47 with Mike and on bed rest for 4 ½ months with a heart condition. She had Mike and all went well.

She was the matriarch and hero of the Jaunich family. “She was the night watchman, listening for a baby’s cry, coughing, sick kids, or teens coming in after curfew. Her children thought she had eyes in the back of her head. She had the eye of an eagle and the roar of a lion, but they always knew her heart was in the right place. She was a great mother, when asked who her favorite child was, she’d say, “Whoever needs me the most. No two are alike-they are all great.”

Tragedy struck June 21, 1975, when Pete Jaunich, seventh in birth order, was involved a serious car accident. Three area young men, Perry Ditty, Robbie Snow, and Doug Williams, died in the accident. Pete was the only survivor and spent a long time in a body cast.

Tragedy struck again when her son Charlie, 18 years old and the ninth child in birth order was killed in a car accident driving to work August 30, 1982. Later that same day, as he sat in the kitchen surrounded by family, Wally Jaunich, her husband, had a massive heart attack and also died. Double funeral. Her son Tom was in the Army stationed in Washington and her son Joe was in the Navy on the USS America in the North Atlantic Ocean in Europe. They flew him to the Azores Islands off the coast of Africa, finally then to the USA so he could attend his brother and father’s funeral. At the time, her children ranged in age from 34 year to Mike being 9 years old. It was her strong faith, determination and her children that helped her through the tragic losses.

A few years later she starting working in the kitchen at Mt Olive School, it gave her great joy to see her grandchildren in the lunch line. She also volunteered at the Delano Senior Center and Wright County, driving anyone in need to doctor appointments. When she retired from driving, she received an award that honored her 50,000 miles of volunteering.
Eldoris was always on the move, if not with her children and sporting events, she was playing cards, fishing, or taking trips to the casino.

Since 2017 she had been living at the Legacy in Delano, and enjoyed the interaction with all the people she had known all her life, especially seeing her brother Eldon and his wife Leora, at each meal.

COVID hit and it changed our ability to see her whenever we wanted. We were contemplating how we could celebrate her 95th birthday on Oct 2nd, because she never missed a good party. On Sept 28th, she entered Waconia hospital after complaining about dizziness and weakness. We received the news that she had a lung embolism and her days were coming to an end. Her daughter, Barb, and husband Dan, welcomed her in hospice at their home. Her family gathered on Oct 2nd to wish her a happy birthday, share stories, and tell her how much we loved her. Words cannot express what a blessing that was for all of us, she went to her home in heaven the following day.

She arranged much of her own funeral. She titled it, “Peace and Christian Love.” Anyone that knew her, knew she was truly a woman of faith. It was most important to her that her children be raised knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ. All 11 children went to Mt Olive Lutheran School. For 31 years she was in PTA, and was recognized by Mt Olive School as the longest-serving parent. Eldoris now has 39 Grandchildren and 48 Great-Grandchildren. She often quoted Romans 8:28, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

Eldoris touched so many lives, in so many ways. Eldoris had the ability to see goodness in everyone and gave her all to her family and church. All though she is gone, she’ll live forever in our hearts.

Eldoris was preceded in death by husband Wally Jaunich; son Charlie Jaunich; son-in-law Mike Czock; grandsons Robbie Jaunich and Aaron Jaunich; granddaughter-in- law, Cindy Scherer; parents Carl and Mabel (Wetter) Krause; brother and sister-in-law Marvin and Virginia Krause; sister and brother-in-law Ione and Elmer Kespohl; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Laura and Bud Hahn, Gloria and Gene Fobbe, Vernon Yager, Roy Dalchow, Al Fink, and John Muesch.

Eldoris is survived by 10 Children, Steve (Char), John (Vicki), Barb Scherer (Dan), Joe (JoAnn), Paul (Chris), Pat Czock, Pete (Jodi), Tom (Jill), Dave (Kelly), Mike (Renee); 37 Grandchildren, Amy (Tony) Poppler, Kevin (Laura) Jaunich, Adam Jaunich, Mark (Liz) Jaunich, Amanda (Chris) Page, Josie (Jake) Robasse, Jimmie Jaunich, Annie (Anthony) Dantzer, Charlie (Tomoka), Melissa Hokanson, Michelle (David) Winecoff, Ben Scherer, Patrick (Becca) Scherer, Andrew (Megan) Jaunich , Greg Jaunich, Kirk (Natalie) Jaunich, Cassie (JT) Koehn, Kandi (Erik) Elfering, Ariel Jaunich, Travor (Julie) Jaunich, Bradley Czock, Curtis Czock, Lori (Larry) Elsen, Jeff (Cathy) Czock, Brian (Christine) Czock, Matt (Jenny) Jaunich, Jenna (Aaron) Farley, Maggie (Matt Engebretson) Jaunich, Rachel (Maurice) Blackledge, Brooke Jaunich, Bryce Jaunich, Lauren Jaunich, Alex (Maggie) Jacobs, Noah Jaunich, Olivia Jaunich, Brady Jaunich, Isaac Jaunich; 48 Great-Grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Eldon (Leora) Krause and Robert (Donna) Krause; sisters Mildred Yager and Luella Dalchow; brother-in-law Harvey (Louise) Jaunich; sisters-in-law Alice Fink, Verdella Musech, and Diane Madden.

A Memorial Service was held at 1 PM on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Mt Olive Lutheran Church in Delano. Gathering of family and friends was held Saturday, from 10 AM-1 PM, prior to the service at the church. Inurnment was in West Mt Olive Cemetery, Delano. Attendees were asked to wear masks.