Janelle Mogonye

1930 - 2025

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Janelle Nelson Mogonye, entered eternal life on Jan. 6, 2025, following a brief illness. She was 94 years old.

Born Sept. 28, 1930, Janelle was the eldest child of Elmer Louis Nelson and Erna Elise Schroeder. A lifelong resident of the Elgin area, Janelle’s family moved from the Type and Beyersville communities to the wide-open prairie near Lund when she was young, and attended the two-room Carlson School before transferring to Elgin where she graduated from high school at the age of 17.

Janelle then attended the University of Texas at Austin and enjoyed a brief career with J.C. Penney’s on Congress Avenue before marrying her husband of 54 years, Emil Raymond Mogonye. It was their union that blossomed into a life centered around family and fellowship. She could often be found at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church organizing charitable causes with the Prime Timers, giving her time for volunteer service at Elgin’s S.P.J.S.T. Lodge 18 and the local Community Cupboard, visiting the elderly at Elgin Golden Years Nursing Home, or perusing Saturday garage sales to cheering on her grandkids’ many athletic and extracurricular events. 

Affectionately known as MeeMaw to her family, Janelle was an exemplary mother figure and human being. She embodied the best of qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, and an unending generosity that could be seen in her care for her family and friends. Her friendships encompassed all aspects of life, and each was special to her. Above all, it was her grandchildren she cherished most.

From lengthy phone call chats to joint family gatherings, to sharing informal meals and joining weekly Bridge Club card games, to adventures near and far, to helping in times of sadness and difficulty, Janelle was up for it all. She knew that friendships, like gardens, take work to maintain, and she was willing to put in the effort.

Janelle was a lifelong learner and encouraged the pursuit of knowledge. She placed great importance on continuing education and was extremely proud of her grandkids who earned advanced degrees in the fields of medicine, jurisprudence and engineering. In addition, Janelle established the Mogonye Family Endowed Scholarship at Tarleton State University in 2018 to benefit young men and women from Bastrop, Lee and Williamson counties in their pursuit of higher education.    

She was preceded in death by her parents, Erna and Elmer Nelson; brother, Elmer “Buddy” Nelson Jr.; her loving husband, Emil Raymond Mogonye; a son who died in infancy, Mac Morgan Mogonye; and son-in-law, Michael Dennis Lloyd.

Janelle is survived by her two sons, Roger Mogonye and wife, Suzanne, and Tracy Mogonye and wife, Joyce, all of Elgin; and one daughter, Judy Lloyd, of Stephenville, Texas; grandchildren, Jason Mogonye M.D., Whitney Mogonye, Kurt Mogonye, Lindsey (Jonathan) Hansen, Courtney (Jedd) McWhorter J.D., Jon-Erik Mogonye Ph.D., Jake (Jennifer) Mogonye, and Justin Mogonye; six step-grandchildren, Scott (Tanya) Lloyd, Rob (Sally) Lloyd, and David (Erin) Lloyd, Brian (Tammie) Case, Kevin (DeDe) Knight, and Michael (Crystal) Knight; seven great-grandchildren, Hayes and Brooks Hansen, Kennedy and Ryan Mogonye, Callum and Charlotte McWhorter, and Hagen Mogonye; 14 step-great-grandchildren, Colby Lloyd, Rachel Young, Stephen (Madeline) Lloyd, Jenna Lloyd, Matthew Lloyd, Rebekah and Aiden Lloyd, Brian Jr. and Ben Case, Garrett and Jessica Knight, and Madison, Nikki and Memphis Knight; and one step-great-great-grandchild, Luna Lloyd. She is also survived by many special nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished friends.

Visitation will take place Friday, Jan. 10, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Providence Jones Funeral Home in Elgin. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elgin, with interment to follow at the Elgin Cemetery.