Janzen, Lester E. (1922-2002)

Latest revision as of 13:47, 2 November 2010

Newton Kansan obituary: 2002 Oct 8 p. 2 ; 2002 Oct 9 p. 2

Birth date: 1922 Nov 12

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Oct 21 p. 16

text of obituary:

Lester E. Janzen, 79, of North Newton, Kan., died Oct. 8, 2002, at Kidron Bethel Village. He was born Nov. 12, 1922, to Peter G. and Eva (Huebert) Janzen in Henderson, Neb.

He served with the United States Army during World War II. He graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and from Goshen (Ind.) College.

He married Eileen D. Epp on March 4, 1944, in Henderson.

He was pastor of Bethel Mennonite Church in Perkasie, Pa., and at Menno Mennonite Church in Ritzville, Wash. He was the stewardship secretary for the General Conference Mennonite Church for 11 years, a fund-raiser for Mennonite Biblical Seminary and for Meadowlark for several years, an estate planner with Mennonite Foundation for 15 years, and was a board member at Kidron Bethel Retirement Village for 12 years.

He was an active member of Faith Mennonite Church of Newton for 39 years.

After his retirement, he spent a number of years scheduling the traveling museum of the Mirror of the Martyrs display for Kauffman Museum in many areas in the United States and Canada.

Survivors include his wife, Eileen; two sons, Joel and his wife, Natalie, of Denver, and Scott and his wife, Karen, of Evergreen, Colo.; three daughters, Cheri Jantzen and her husband, Dave, of Houston, Judith Janzen and her husband, Robert Nikkel, of Salem, Ore., and Faith Janzen of Overland Park; a sister, Eva Tessman of Hillsboro; his mother-in-law, Marie Epp Siebert of Henderson; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Nick, Peter and Johnny; and a sister, Elizabeth Friesen.

Funeral services were held at Faith Mennonite Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.