Janzen, Susanna Epp (1877-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Dec 19 p. 8

Birth date: 1877 May 24

text of obituary:

MRS. SUSANNA JANZEN

I, Susanna Janzen, was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Epp. My parents left Russia and arrived in America on July 9, 1876. They made their home on a farm in Cottonwood County, Minn. Here I was born on May 24, 1877. My childhood days were spent on this farm where I helped my parents with the daily work.

May 30, 1897, I was baptized by the Elder Heinrich Voth and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church for fellowship.

On Sept. 24, 1901, I was united in holy matrimony to Cornelius Janzen. In November of that same year, we moved to North Dakota to make our home on a farm thirty miles south of Langdon. One year later, the church was built at Munich, North Dakota. Here the Lord greatly blessed us in a material way and also a spiritual way. We were very happy in this little church as we worshipped with other children of God.

In 1907 we moved back to Minnesota, and in the year 1934 we came to Reedley, Calif. It was here in Reedley on Sept. 26, 1941, that the Lord took my precious husband from my side. From that time on I was to walk life's way more or less alone, but I must say, “Hitherto, the Lord has helped me.”

(Up to this point written by mother.)

Our mother sought to live a courageous life in spite of various difficulties. The passing of our father was certainly a great trial in her life. Nine years ago two of her stalwart grandsons ages 17 and 21 were taken out of this world rather suddenly through the misfortune of an automobile accident. This too was a time of great trial, but mother placed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and trusted him for all things. In 1942 another grandson, age 10, of the same family, was taken home to glory.

The last years of her life she suffered with a good deal of illness. About the first of October of this year she became bedfast. She developed a real feeling of homesickness for her heavenly Home in her last days. We are grateful that she was conscious to the very last. In the last hour of her life on earth she asked us to greet her loved ones. Soon after this she fell asleep in Christ. The hour of her departure came at 2:30 a. m., Saturday, Nov. 30, 1957. She reached the age of 80 years, six months and six days.

The following mourn in this hour of sadness: two sons, John of Lafayette, Calif. and Theodore of Mt. Lake, Minn.; seven daughters, Lillie Janzen of Reedley, Elizabeth, Mrs. Peter D. Stoesz of Minneapolis, Minn., Naomi, Mrs. Lambertus of Reedley, Arpa, Mrs. Gary Krumbein of Fresno, Calif., Ruth, Mrs. Henry Keck of Fresno, Martha, Mrs. Clarence Granato of San Francisco and Frances, Mrs. Louis Nicholas of Sacramenta [sic Sacramento]; 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. John H. Voth of Hillsboro, Kansas; three brothers, Peter Epp of Shafter, Calif.; Cornelius Epp of Ellensburg, Wash.; George Epp of Windom, Minn.

The funeral was conducted in the Reedley Mennonite Church on Wednesday, Dec. 4, with Dan Friesen, H. R. Wiens and G. B. Huebert officiating. — The Children.