Jantzen, Henry E. (1925-2003)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2003 Dec 1 p. 2

Birth date: 1925 May 4

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Dec 22 p. 8

text of obituary:

HENRY E. JANTZEN

Henry E. Jantzen, 78, of Beatrice, Neb., died Nov. 29, 2003, at a hospital in Lincoln. He was born May 4, 1925, to Henry B. and Margaret (Ensz) Jantzen in Beatrice.

He grew up in the Plymouth area. He was baptized May 24, 1942, and became a member of First Mennonite Church, where he remained a member for the rest of his life.

During World War II he was a conscientious objector and received a farm deferment. In 1945, the U.S. government and United Nations needed farmers to take care of horses and donkeys being shipped to Europe. He cared for a load of horses sent to Poland and a load of donkeys to Greece. In 1949, he entered Mennonite Central Committee service, working at Akron, Pa., and Shillman, N.J. He went to Europe in May 1949 and served until September 1951. Returning to Beatrice, he took over the family farm.

He met Gretl Ott while she was an MCC trainee at Mennonite Deaconess Hospital in 1953. They were married Dec. 15, 1955, in Germany.

They hosted 17 MCC and three FFA trainees. He served as church chairman, Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher. He was involved in starting Mennonite Disaster Service in Nebraska and served as the first chairman. In the county he was on the elevator board, school board and active in Farmers' Union. He worked with the Jefferson County crop program for many years. He donated more than 13 gallons of blood to the Red Cross and was a member of Nebraskans for Peace. He retired in 1993.

Survivors include his wife, Gretl; four sons, Vern and his wife, Dolores, and Glen and his wife, Linda, all of Plymouth, Mark and his wife, Alice, of Newton, Kan., and Eric and his wife, Joelle, of Overland Park, Kan.; a daughter, Sarah Peters and her husband, Tim, of Silverton, Ore.; a sister, Emma Jantzen of Beatrice; 10 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by a brother, John Jantzen; two sisters, Sarah Jantzen and Margaret Grundman; and a grandson, Luke Peters.

Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church of Beatrice.