Janzen, H. H. (1901-1975)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Apr 3 p. 6

Birth date: 1901 Oct 1

text of obituary:

Pastor, Evangelist, Educator

Widely Known Mennonite Brethren Churchman Dies

KITCHENER, ONT. — The Ottawa Street Mennonite Brethren Church was filled to capacity for the funeral services of Rev. H. H. Janzen, 73, held on Friday afternoon, Mar. 7.

Rev. Janzen, well-known Mennonite Brethren churchman who was involved in a wide range of ministries in both Canada and Europe, died on mar. 4 at St. Mary's hospital here. He had been admitted to the hospital with influenza and an infection of Feb. 6.

Born on Oct. 1, 1901 at Muensterberg in the Molotschna, South Russia, he received his education at the Zentralschule (high school) at Orloff and the business college at Halbstadt. on Aug. 30, 1923 he married Katherine Andres.

ACCOMPANIED by his wife and son Rudie, Rev. Janzen migrated to Kitchener in 1925, where he was ordained to the ministry two years later. As pastor he served the Kitchener church for 12 years. other pastorates he served were the South End M. B. church in Winnipeg, man. and the Clearbrook (B. C.) M. G. Church.

As a conference leader, he was instrumental in the formation of the Ontario M. B. Conference and served that body as moderator for 14 years. He also served as moderator of the Canadian M. B. Conference and of the General conference of M. B. Churches in North America.

In the area of education, he was a teacher and principal at the Russian Bible Institute in Toronto, Ont. from 1941 to 1946 and then served on the faculty of Mennonite Brethren Bible College, Winnipeg, two years as dean and eight years as president.

FOR PERIODS totalling 11 years and eight months — spread over 27 years — Rev. Janzen served in Europe. He first ministered to Russian refugees in 1947 and then went there on a fact-finding mission for the M. B. Board of Missions in 1950. In 1952 and 1955 he served as a minister to Mennonite churches in Germany, Switzerland and France.

As a teacher and evangelist he served in Bible conferences and evangelistic meetings and at the European Mennonite Bible School at Bienenberg, Switzerland from 1956 to 1961.

In 1964 and 1965 Rev. Janzen taught at the seminary at St. Chrischona in Switzerland and served in various other capacities in Europe during that time as a minster-at-large under the M. B. Board of Missions.

As a broadcaster he served a total of 11 years, first over Radio Luxembourg and later on the "Gospel Light Hour" in Winnipeg.

AFTER 1972 he continued his ministry in Bible conferences in Canada.

Surviving in the immediate family are the widow, four sons, Rudie, Walter, Edward and Arthur; three daughters, Erna Wiens, Lena Neufeld and Elsa Grenzberg; 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.