Jerrene Joyce Watzel

Jerrene Watzel, 81, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, SD. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 10:30AM at the Winner Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 5-6:00PM at the Winner Methodist Church with a prayer service beginning at 6:00PM.

Jerrene Joyce (Friesen) Watzel crossed over to meet her Savior on Wednesday, August 20, 2025at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD. She was born on March 7, 1944 to David A. and Nettie Friesen and was raised on a farm near Henderson, NE. She had 2 brothers, Dwaine Friesen and the late Morris, who was killed while riding his motorcycle at the age of 22. Henderson is a small farming community comprised of mostly German Mennonites. She attended country school near their farm and as a child she listened to the missionaries who would visit their church with a bit of envy and lots of eagerness to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to others.

Post high-school, she attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She was involved in the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and developed life-long friendships. She earned an English and Journalism degree from the university. After graduating, she joined TEAM missions and set off to teach British English to high-school students in Swaziland, South Africa. She taught at Franson Christian High School and after 8 years of teaching, at the age of 32, she began having mystifying symptoms. She traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa (a city the size of Chicago, Ill) for blood work and other tests. God constantly reminded her that "Perfect love casts out fear…." (1 John 4:18). The results confirmed that she had a tumor the size of an egg on one of her kidneys but she was not afraid of the next steps. The confident and competent staff removed her kidney on July 12, 1977. After 5 weeks she was back to work part-time. During her time of surgery and recovery, she had many of moments to reflect on God's sovereign plan for her in all of this! She took time to reflect on God's love for her as He graciously provided school to be canceled in the whole country of Swaziland (due to a Royal wedding) so three of her friends could be with her. Only God can arrange the timing of such things! She reflected on her need to submit to God and know that His plans for her were all in His hands. She reflected on her need to be taught by God. Like all of our minds, they are a battlefield for all kinds of thoughts. Reading through the book of Ecclesiastes, she saw that her responsibility in life was to enjoy the work God gave her. He will do all the evaluating and judging. She reflected on His provision of her friends and plans for her future. There were many people in South Africa and in the US that were praying for her and helping her with the needs that she had (emotional, physical, spiritual and financial). She trusted God for the days/years ahead. Jerrene fell in love with her students and their families. She was immersed into the culture and had many fond memories of her time spent there. After 12 years of teaching, she returned to the US not knowing what her next assignment from God would be.

In March of 1983, she met Cleo Watzel. Cleo's first wife, Betty Lou (Rohwer), had passed away with leukemia in October of 1981. In September 1983, Jerrene and Cleo married and she joined him on the farm outside of Winner, SD. Just as she trusted God to carry her through each day in South Africa, she continued to trust Him when she joined his family on the farm. She joined a well-established family and community. Those days weren't easy as she integrated back into life in America, on a fully working farm with older children and a teenager living in the house. She immediately loved her family. She lived a full life trusting God in each step and looking forward to eternity with her Creator and Controller of her life. Cleo and Jerrene enjoyed married life for 42 years.

Jerrene loved sharing with others about her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She enjoyed homemaking, reading and teaching Sunday School at the OPC Church. She also loved laughing and being silly! Jerrene is survived by her husband, Cleo Watzel; children Brad (Bretta) Watzel, Steven (Denise) Watzel and Tammy (Jeff) Smith; 7 grandkids (Brittany (Watzel) Shelbourn, Bethany (Watzel) Lindwurm, Benjamin Watzel, Alysha (Watzel) Davis, Erika Smith, Samuel Smith and Sarah Smith and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, her younger brother and many aunts, uncles and cousins.