Janzen, Sara Wiens Peters (1859-1936)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Apr 8 p. 5

Birth date: 1859

text of obituary:

LOCAL

— A number of relatives and friends from Newton attended the funeral for Mrs. Sara Janzen of Hydro, Okla., which was held at the Hebron church near Buhler Tuesday afternoon. The pastor of the church, Rev. P. E. Franz was in charge and was assisted by Rev. J. M. Regier of Newton. Mrs. Janzen is better known in the Moundridge and Buhler community as Mrs. Deitrich [sic Dietrich] Peters. For the last five years she made her home with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Thiessen of Hydro, Okla. She was 77 years old and a sister of the aged Mrs. Peter Wall of Buhler.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Apr 22 p. 2

text of obituary:

Mrs. Henry K. Janzen

Mrs. Henry K. Janzen, nee Wiens, was born in the village of Petershagen, South Russia, her parents being John and Ida (Wiebe) Wiens. Here in South Russia she spent her childhood and received an elementary schooling. She was the youngest of a family of 10 children. Her father had three children of a former marriage and her mother five. Her only full sister, now 80 years old, is probably still living in Siberia. A half-sister, Mrs. Rev. Peter Wall living at Buhler, Kansas, is almost 100 years old. The others of the family have all passed away.

From her father she inherited a fine handwriting and attractive style of letter-writing. Her father died after he was 90 years old.

Upon her confession of her personal faith in her Savior Jesus Christ, she was baptized as a young girl and became a member of the church in Petershagen. In this faith through all the tumult of a strenuous life she never wavered.

In 1880 she entered into holy wedlock with our father Dietrich Peters, who preceded her in death in 1917. Into this union 8 daughters and 2 sons were born. Three daughters and one son died in infancy at a tender age. her youngest son, Dietrich, died at the age of 22 years at Hydro, Okla., on Oct. 26, 1934. This was a great shock to her, especially so because of her husband having died before. The remaining five daughters are: Ida, Mrs. John Wiebe, Elbing, Kans.; Mary, Mrs. H. H. Friesen, Burrton, Kans.; Sarah, Mrs. Cornelius Friesen, Burrton, Kans.; Agnes, Mrs. George Dunnika, Englewood, Kans.; and Susie, Mrs. B. H. Thiessen, Hydro, Okla., in whose home she died. She reached the age of 78 years and 20 days. She also leaves to mourn her death 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In 1918 she was again married to H. K. Janzen, Hydro, Okla., thereby becoming the stepmother of four sons, whom she loved and who loved her. One step-son, Henry, also preceded her in death. All her living children and step-children mourned at her bier at the funeral held in the Hydro, Okla., church on April 5 and at the Hebron, Buhler, Kans., church on April 7.

Father H. K. Janzen died on January 29, 1931. Since then she made her home with her youngest child Susie, Mrs. B. H. Thiessen, Hydro, Okla. In this attractive home she spent the last five years of her eventful life.

Circumstances caused her to change her home often. In Russia she had to leave her closest relatives and friends to pioneer in new localities. In 1910 she with her husband emigrated to the United States and located at Moundridge, Kansas for some time.

For several weeks preceding her death she was sick from the flu. This developed into double pneumonia, which caused her death after four days of serious illness. She had learned by overcoming many obstacles to pray with her Master: "Lord, not mine, but Thy will be done." Her optimism through all struggles of life always was so encouraging to all about her. This made her presence welcome.

She was a dear mother to us, never shirking any responsibilities, but always doing more than was her share. And our Savior says: "What you have done to the least of these, you have done to me." May her example of daily Christian living always be goal until our life's journey also ends. Then we shall see her again where are no tears and to parting, and as we so often sing: "In my Father's many mansions is a home prepared for me". We her children, relatives and many friends mourn her passing. — The Bereaved Family.