Janzen, Peter P. (1858-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 May 31 p. 6

Birth date: 1858 Dec 4

text of obituary:

. . .

— Peter P. Jantzen [sic Janzen], 92, who pioneered on a farm north of Newton upon his arrival from Russia in 1875, died May 23 at the Bethel Home for Aged. He is survived by his wife, Anna, of the Home, one sister Mrs. Henry H. Penner of Hillsboro, and the following children: John M. of Hesston, Herman S. of Route 2, Mrs. Carl Nath of Wichita, Daniel of Oklahoma City and Walter of Ft. Worth, Texas. Rev. D. J. Unruh and Rev. J. E Entz officiated at the funeral services, held Saturday afternoon at the First Mennonite church.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Jun 14 p. 8

text of obituary:

PETER P. JANZEN

Peter P. Janzen was born December 4, 1858, in the village of Klefeld, South Russia, and died in the Bethel Home for the Aged on May 23, 1951, attaining the ripe old age of 92 years, five months and 19 days.

At the age of 17 in the year 1875 with his parents, Peter and Eva Flaming Janzen, three brothers and four sisters, he immigrated to Kansas. The family established their home in West Branch towsnship [sic], Marion county, Kansas, approximately 10 miles north of Newton, where he was kept busy breaking sod and helping with the varied duties incidental to the hardships of early pioneer life.

Upon his profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, he was baptized in 1879 by the beloved, sainted elder, Jacob Buller, and became a faithful member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church.

In the year 1886 he married Maria Klassen and established his own home less than one mile west of his parents’ homestead. This union was blessed with three sons. The youngest died in infancy and Henry died at a relative early age of 40 years in October, 1930. His first wife, Maria, and mother of his three sons, died April 12, 1899.

On October 8, 1899, he took the vows of Holy Matrimony with Anna Suderman. This union was blessed with three sons and two daughters, one of whom died in infancy.

He was a charter member of the Tabor Mennonite church, which was organized in 1908.

In August 1927, upon his retirement, he left his farm and to a new home at 319 South Pine street in Newton and by transfer of letter he became a member of the First Mennonite church, of [sic] he remained a member until his death.

He resided in his Pine Street home until April 1, 1946, at which time he made his last move to the Bethel Home for the Aged. He frequently expressed his appreciation for the care and the comfort which the Home provided for him in his dependent years.

With his passing goes one of the last of our early Mennonite pioneers who helped break the virgin prairie of Kansas; helped build splendid homes and churches and participated in developing his community for posterity to enjoy. He loved and respected the freedom and privileges of the gerat [sic] democracy.

Although he had been totally blind for 14 years and was quite hard of hearing, his memory was keen and his mind remained alert. He has been an inspiration to us and an example of clean Christian virtuous living; of paying his own way even in his advanced age and of devoutly loving the Lord who called him Home to dwell with him eternally.

He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife, Anna, and the following children: John M. of Hesston, Kans., Herman of Newton, Daniel of Oklahoma City, Okla., Marie, Mrs. Carl Nath of Wichita and Walter of Fort Worth, Texas. He leaves 17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He also leaves one aged sister, Katherina, Mrs. H. H. Penner, of Hillsboro, Kans.

The Mennonite obituary: 1951 Jun 19 p. 403