Janna Davis

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/HMZ0MA91894 

Janna Kay Davis

Beloved mom and grandma, Janna Kay Davis, 71, of Grand Forks, and formerly of Kennedy, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on August 3, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family. 

Janna was born June 17, 1953 at Deaconess Hospital in Grand Forks to Robert N. and Jeanne (Deere) Dahl. On June 28, 1953, she was baptized in the Lutheran faith at the home of her grandparents Conrad and Alma Dahl as her father, Robert, was returning to active duty at Camp Roberts in California. In her earliest months, Janna traveled with her parents to locations where her father was stationed with the U.S. Army. In late 1953, Janna and her parents made a final move home to Kennedy. Janna grew up on the family farm in Skane Township. In her younger years she enjoyed living near her cousins and partaking in the activities of a farm family. When she was nine years old she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and lived the next 62 years proclaiming she could manage her disease better than anyone – including medical professionals. Janna attended Kindergarten through Grade 12 at Kennedy School. During high school, she was active in the school band, was a drum majorette, participated in class plays, and excelled with the speech team. Besides her school activities, Janna was involved with the youth group and the Happy Hearts choir at Maria Lutheran Church in Kennedy. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Maria in 1968. She graduated high school in 1971. Janna went on to attend the University of North Dakota studying home economics education. 

In December of 1976 Janna married Allan Davis of Kennedy. To their union two children were born. Lindsay Dahl in 1977 and Nancy Jeanne in 1983. Janna adored her children and happily was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. She loved her girls and would have done anything for them. 

Throughout her life Janna held a number of occupations. While staying home with her children, she provided daycare for local families. She was well-known as the preschool teacher for the Kennedy Tiny Tots program. Later in life she was first an activities aide and then the activities director for Kittson Memorial Nursing Home. Prior to her retirement in 2020, she was a patient access representative for Altru Health System – a position she began in 2009. Through this work she made many life-long friends. 

Janna poured her heart into Maria Lutheran Church. She was a volunteer with the Sunday School program, Vacation Bible School program, served on Church Council, served on altar guild, and participated in WELCA. She shared her musical talents through the church choir and as a church pianist. She found much joy directing many Sunday School Christmas programs at Maria. Her faith was strong and unwavering and her family always knew she prayed for them daily. 

Of all that’s been mentioned, Janna’s greatest joy came from her grandchildren. Rylan and Reagan Kuntz were born in 2007. Kendall Wojnarski was born in 2010 and Emsley Wojnarski completed her family in 2017. Janna loved her grandchildren more than anything in the world and her grandchildren loved her. She rocked them as infants, held them close as toddlers, and as they grew talked with them daily wanting updates on what went on at school, how their day was, and what activities they had coming up. She was so proud of Rylan, Reagan, Kendall, and Emsley and they will miss her immensely. 

Janna is survived by her loving family including daughter Lindsay Kuntz and son-in-law Kevin Kuntz of Grand Forks; her daughter Nancy Wojnarski and son-in-law Jordan Wojnarski of Leander, Texas; grandchildren Rylan and Reagan Kuntz and Kendall and Emsley Wojnarski. She is also survived by her brother James Dahl and sister-in-law Janel Dahl of Kennedy; nieces Lauren (Scott) Foyt; Shannon Dahl; and nephew Brett (Tasha) Dahl. She will be missed by her aunts Bev Lundberg and Elizabeth Dahl and uncle Robert Mattson, her many Deere and Dahl cousins, godchildren, and friends. 

Janna was welcomed home and preceded in death by her parents Robert and Jeanne Dahl, grandparents Louis and Dorothy Deere and Conrad and Alma Dahl and husband Allan Davis. She was also preceded in death by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024 at Maria Lutheran Church, Kennedy. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service in the church. A private family burial will take place at a later date with internment in the Kennedy City Cemetery.