Jinette Whitney

Mankato Mortuary
388-2202

Jinette Loraine Whitney, age 56, of Good Thunder, died Monday, February 21, 2011 at Hillcrest Health Care Center from complications due to cancer.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 4, 2011 at St. John Lutheran Church, Good Thunder, with Rev. Rudolph H. Maurer Jr., officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Good Thunder. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, March 3, 2011 at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Friday. Memorials may be given to St. John Lutheran Sunday School or American Cancer Society (Hope Lodge)

Jinette was born January 17, 1955 to John and Edyth (Johnson) Whitney in Madelia. She graduated from Kenyon High School. She attended Mankato State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education. She spent several months studying in London, England, and eventually worked as a Grad Assistant at MSU. Jinette was employed by Holy Trinity in Winsted and Glencoe Public Schools as an English and Literature teacher, St. Olaf College where she worked as a coordinator in the Development and Planned Giving department, Lutheran Social Service in St. Paul, Maple River School District, Young America Corporation, and Minnesota Valley Action Council in Mankato. In addition to her employment, she spent several years volunteering with Junior Achievement, a non-profit organization that brings the real world to students through hands-on curriculum. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, helped with Vacation Bible School, and planned events for the Sunday School children, as well as the other children in the community. Helping with the planning process for Pioneer Indian Days in Good Thunder was also something that she enjoyed doing. In addition to all of these activities, Jinette was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 294 of Lake Crystal for the past three years. Jinette loved music, cooking, gardening, journaling, and planning activities for her nieces and nephews on a regular basis

Jinette is survived by her mother, Edyth Whitney of Good Thunder; siblings, Kent Whitney of Atlanta, GA, Elliot Whitney of Blackduck, Bryan (Robin) Whitney of Kenyon, Carolyn (Lee) Jones of Aguila, AZ, Laura (Mark) Matzke of Good Thunder, Leah (Steve) Galaudet of Minneapolis; two sisters-in-law, Sandie Whitney of Wyoming, Toni Whitney of Bemidji; nieces and nephews, Paul (Melissa), Paige, Josie, Jenny (Matt), Amanda, Steven, Jessica, Anne, Travis, Colleen, Amber, Leanna, Kathryn, Evan, Alex, Adrian, Isabel; great nieces and nephews, Neo, Lily, Emily, Annabelle, Madelyn, Curtis, Sophia, and John; aunt and uncle, Fred and Bette Manke of Lake Crystal; and many cousins.

Jinette was preceded in death by her father, John; maternal grandparents, Milton and Audrey Johnson; paternal grandparents, Marvin and Irma Whitney; uncle, Duane; and her cat, Tilly.