Janzen, Waldo Roy (1917-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Nov 24 p. 1

Birth date: 1917 Aug 1

text of obituary:

Nebraska Minister Dies In Auto Accident

REV. WALDO JANZEN WAS NATIVE OF GOESSEL, KAN. AND FORMER TEACHER

Goessel, Kansas. — An auto accident Sunday morning near Stella, Neb. claimed the life of Rev. Waldo R. Janzen, 43, a native of the Goessel community who had been serving as pastor of two churches in the Stella community.

Funeral services were conducted at 10 a. m. Tuesday in the Stella Community Church with Rev. H. D. Burkholder of Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, officiating. Final services were arranged for 2 p. m. Wednesday at the Tabor Mennonite Church near here, Rev. James Waltner officiating. Burial was to be made in the Tabor Church cemetery. The Miller Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements.

Rev. Janzen was born Aug. 1, 1917 at Goessel, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich Janzen. He taught school for a number of years in Marion and Harvey counties.

Surviving are his wife, the former Irene Schmidt, and their six children, Helen, Grace, Anna Marie, William, Paul and Timothy, all of the home; his mother, Mrs. Dietrich Janzen of Walton; and two sisters, Erna Janzen and Berniece [sic Bernice] Janzen of Goessel.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jan 12 p. 8

text of obituary:

WALDO ROY JANZEN

Waldo Roy Janzen, son of Dietrich and Helena Schmidt Janzen, was born at Goessel, Kan., Aug. 1, 1917. He was one of four children. In 1937 he was baptized in the Tabor Mennonite Church by Rev. P. W. Richert. It was here that he retained his membership until the time of his death.

He attended rural school near Walton, Kan., graduated from the Walton High School, attended Bethel College at Newton for two years, graduated from Grace Bible Institute at Omaha, and had completed all but six hours toward his Bachelor of science degree at the University of Omaha.

He spent four years in Civilian Public Service during World War II. He served at Henry, Ill., Downey, Iowa, and at the state hospital, Ypsilanti, Mich. He also spent one summer at Goshen (Ind.) College preparing for relief work.

He was united in marriage to Irene Schmidt Oct. 27, 1944 at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel, Kan. He taught school for two and one-half years prior to his Civilian Public Service and taught in the Goessel area for four and one-half years after his marriage. He then lived and worked in Omaha, Neb. for nine years while he completed his schooling in preparation for the ministry. In June of 1959 he became pastor of the Stella Community church and the Barada E. U. B. church. In August of that year his family moved to Stella where they have since made thier home.

Six children were born to this union, William 15, Paul 13, Helen 12, Grace 10, Anna 7 and Timothy 3.

He was preceded in death by his father who died Nov. 14, 1951. In addition to his wife and six children, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Helena Janzen of Walton, two sisters, Erna and Bernice Janzen of Goessel, and one brother, Arlin of Walton.

The congregations at Stella and Barada accepted his ministry and family in a wonderful way and were deeply grieved due to his sudden death. He enjoyed the ministry and was sure that this work was God's plan for him. His chief desire was to bring others to the knowledge of Christ as Saviour and to lead them to live their lives for Him. He is missed very much as a dear husband and loving father, but we are confident that our God makes no mistakes.

Sunday morning, Nov. 20, 1960, while on his way to a church service at Barada he was involved in an accident that took his life. He was 43 years, three months and 19 days of age.