Joydell Janner

Joydell Wieghat Janner

Celebration of Life

Joydell Wieghat Janner, 91 of Brenham died December 10, 2025, in Brenham, Texas. 

She was born on Aug. 18, 1934, in Brenham, Texas, the daughter of Ben Wieghat and Dora Riechers Wieghat. She was baptized at United Methodist Church in Brenham. 

Joydell and Eugene Janner were married Oct. 17, 1953, at the United Methodist Church. After they were married, she joined St. John's Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill where Eugene was a lifelong member. To their union were born two daughters, Cheryl Ann and Jennifer Leigh.

Joydell graduated from Brenham High School. She started her career at Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Company in 1960 and retired from there as a Data and accounting processor in 1990.

Joydell was blessed with the birth of four grandchildren which she truly enjoyed: Chase and Cameron McGuire and Madison and Drake Averitt. She spent many hours babysitting, picking up after school, and traveling to school events, sports games, dance competitions, recitals, and plays. She traveled for a few years from Brenham until she finally bought a home in College Station, living next door to Jennifer.

Eugene and Joydell dreamed of having a family gathering home on the 14 acres in Mound Hill where Eugene grew up to leave for their grandchildren. They moved a 100-year-old farmhouse from Kenney, Texas onto the property and added new rooms and porches. Sadly, Eugene passed away as it was being completed but Joydell carried the torch to completion. This is where the Janner Thanksgiving and the Wieghat Christmas are now held and family members can stay for a weekend away. Joydell came from a broken family which had been scattered, and her goal was to bring her family together. She accomplished this with the Christmas celebration at the farmhouse where, just last weekend, there were 53 members in attendance. A highlight of this event is having a real Santa Claus which always has a unique method of transportation including a hot air balloon, a Blue Bell delivery truck filled with ice cream, a hayride, a horse and surrey and this year a fire engine.

She and Eugene loved traveling with family and friends. She had three trips to Europe, New York City, several cruises and Disney World. She loved traveling with Alvin and Dottie Janner and Shirlene and Emmett Lehmann where she met the one-armed bandit. We all learned not to sit next to her because she was always luckier than you were! She was an avid concert goer and she enjoyed many genres of music. Besides all types of country music, you may be surprised that she attended concerts of Tina Turner, Elton John, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Squier, Celene Dion, Elvis, Billy Joel, Wayne Newton and the Rat Pack among others. She often made the comment "I have the JIVE in me!"

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl Janner-McGuire and Dan McGuire of College Station, Jennifer and Brian Jurries of Brenham; Grandchildren Chase McGuire and wife Rachel, Cameron McGuire and wife Jennette, all of Houston, Madison Averitt of College Station and Drake Averitt of Tomball; Sister Shirley Wieghat Shows and husband David of Rosenberg; Brothers-in-law Alvin Janner of College Station, Calvin Janner and wife Judy of Ridgefield, Washington; Sister-in-law Christine Janner of Brenham; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The Celebration of Life will be Sunday December 14th at 2:00 pm at Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main Street, Brenham, Texas 77833 with Pastor David Shows officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.

Pallbearers will be Chase McGuire, Cameron McGuire, Drake Averitt, Jim Pace, Layne Wieghat and Jay Janner. Honorary pallbearers will be Lex Janner, David Sommer, and Ed Slaughter.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main St., Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, please visit www.memorialoakschapel.com