Janzen, Heinz D. (1927-2011)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2011 Jul 4 p. 8

Birth date: 1927 Jun 19

Text of obituary:

Former GC leader, pastor dies at 83

By Mennonite Weekly Review staff

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Heinz D. Janzen, a pastor, church administrator and writer who served as general secretary of the General Conference Mennonite Church during the 1970s, died June 15. He was 83.

Called to lead the General Conference in 1969, Janzen served at the denomination's Newton office for more than 10 years.

Before his term of denominational leadership, Janzen served pastorates in Washington, Ill., and Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron, Ohio.

After serving the conference, he returned to congregational leadership, serving for 10 years as co-pastor with his wife, Dorothy, at Trinity Mennonite Church in Hillsboro.

Retiring from the ministry in 1990, he served six years as coordinator of Mennonite Men.

Janzen was a prolific writer of curriculum materials for the church. With his wife, he edited and rewrote the Minister's Manual, published in 1983. He served on the committee that produced the 1995 Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, adopted by the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Church, and now used by Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada.

He was born June 19, 1927, to Peter M. and Mary (Dirks) Janzen in a hospital elevator in New York City shortly after their arrival in the United States as immigrants from Ukraine. He grew up in Ontario, Calif., and was baptized in Upland (Calif.) Mennonite Church.

He served in the U. S. Navy from 1945 to 1947 as an electronic technician. He studied at Biola College in Los Angeles; Bethel College in North Newton, where he received a bachelor's degree in history in 1952; and Goshen (Ind.) College, wehre he received a bachelor's degree in education in 1953. He did graduate work at Goshen Biblical Seminary and New York Theological Seminary, where he earned a master od divinity degree in 1956.

He married Dorothea "Dotty" (Wirth) on Sept. 10, 1955. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, Peter, and his wife, Debra, of Wichita; two daughter, Margie Hildebrand and her husband, Charlie, of Morden, Man., and Mary Janzen of State College, Pa.; a brother, Herbert Janzen of Ritzville, Wash.,; a sister, Metta Lieb of Newton; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Janzen.

A memorial service was held at Bethel College Mennonite Church.