William "Henry" Jansen

William "Henry" Jansen passed away peacefully early on the morning of November 12, 2013. He was born January 10, 1930 near Sweet Springs MO to William H. Jansen and Anna Louise (Hartman) Jansen.
At Age 16 he bought a truck and went into business hauling anything anyone woould pay him to move. He later bought a baler and added hay baling to his services.
In 1952 Henry and his brother Merle hired on at General Motors in Fairfax on the same day. They continued there together until they both retired-on the same day-38.5 years later. Henry said retiring was the smartest thing he ever did.
He married Myrtle Falk on July 18, 1953 and their only child, Kathleen, was born December 14, 1954. Myrt preceeded him in death on September 16, 1996.
Myrt and Henry purchased a farm near Sweet Springs in 1963. They worked together improving the farm for many years. After they both retired they began hosting parties there. Henry would invite everyone they knew (and some he had just met) to come, eat and play bluegrass music late into the night.
Henry first learned to play musical instruments as a boy and could play anything with strings. His focus on the fiddle began when he purchased and restored his father's fiddle around 1976. Through his great love for bluegrass music he made many lifelong friends.
He and a group of these friends were instrumental in founding the organization "Heart of America Bluegrass and Old Time" music. (HABOT) His band, Friends of HABOT, met weekly at his home from 1993 to the present. These sessions would include players and listeners, often 30 or more folks gathered for fun, friendship, and good music.
Henry was preceeded in death by his mother and father, two sisters, Carol Theis, Dorothy Smith, and brother Orval Jansen.
He is survived by his brothers Merle Jansen and Donald Jansen, his sister Betty Lou Strawn as well as his daughter Kathleen Groves, her husband Parker Groves, their children Jeffrey, Todd, and Laura Groves.