Published on January 31, 2026 7:14 am
Last Updated on January 31, 2026 7:14 am
Lilly K. Jansen, 21 of Dieterich, passed away Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Bishop Creek, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Monday at the church. Memorial donations may be given to the Jansen family so they may continue honoring Lilly’s memory by supporting the organizations she held close to her heart. Arrangements are in the care of Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham.
Lilly was born August 18, 2004 in Mattoon, the daughter of Matthew and Leslie (Willenborg) Jansen. She was attending SIU–Edwardsville, where she was pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Lilly found joy in structures and design, always seeing beauty and possibility in how things were built. With a bright future ahead of her, she had already accepted a position with CDI in Effingham and was preparing to begin her career following her graduation this May.
From a young age, Lilly showed both independence and determination — she had been riding horses on her own since the age of four and found great joy in being outdoors, whether riding four-wheelers or going on Jeep rides, even if she never quite made peace with the bugs
Lilly was the kind of person who looked after everyone around her. She deeply loved her family, her friends, and her beloved dogs. Known as a “straight and true person,” Lilly lived with honesty, kindness, and a heart that left a lasting mark on all who knew her.
She is survived by her parents, Matthew and Leslie of Dieterich; brother, Cole of Dieterich; sister, Katelyn (fiancé, Jake Herd) of Dieterich; her future fiancé, Will Overton of Altamont and her grandparents, Raymond and Linda Willenborg of Teutopolis and Marilyn Jansen of Neoga.
Lilly was welcomed into heaven by her grandfather, James “Jim” Jansen.