Lillian “Lil” E. Bode (Jahnz) age 102 of Courtland passed away at Woodstone Senior Living Home in New Ulm, MN on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Courtland with Pastor Bob Lund officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at church on Tuesday. Burial will take place in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Antrim Township.

Lil was born October 23, 1923 in Antrim Township, Watonwan County. She was one of eight children born to the late Edward and Louise Jahnz, and was the first of these eight children to attend high school. Lil married Herbert Wiederhoeft in 1944. Following the sudden death of Herbert in 1955, she had several jobs in Truman, Minnesota where she worked at the grocery store, ran the Chat and Chew Cafe where she made many homemade meals and pies, and also did bookwork at the elevator. She married Helmut Bode in 1961 and moved to his family farm in Courtland, MN. In 1975 they retired and built a house in Courtland. Lil and Helmut were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and they were custodians at the church for 12 years. Lil was involved in Dorcas, LWML, Courtland Senior Citizens and Nicollet County Home Extension.

Lil is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Herbert Wiederhoeft and their daughter Darla (Bode), her second husband Helmut Bode, her stepson Ted Thorson, her brothers Alvin, Lester, and Walter Jahnz, and her sisters Elvera Block-Moeller, Elta Karau, Mabel Meyer, and Arlys Black.

Lil is survived by a son-in-law Dale Bode and his wife Ruth of Arlington, her stepson LeRoy Bode and his wife Judy of Courtland, her stepdaughter Carol Thorson of Courtland; four grandchildren, Dawn Brock and her husband Brian, Scott Bode, Kris Hess and her husband Jeff, and Brett Bode; four step grandchildren, Kim Woda and her husband Mark, Kevin Bode and his wife Teri, Resa Harris and her husband David, and Kurt Thorson; five great-grandchildren, Max Brock and his wife Kelsey, Joel Brock and his wife Alexa, Sam Brock and his wife Hannah, Madison Hess-Bartels and her husband Josh, Morgan Hess; four step great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Adam, and Alex Harris and Connor Woda; several great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Woodstone Senior Living for their wonderful care and kindness.