Janz, Elizabeth Pankratz (1875-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Mar 2 p. 3

Birth date: 1875 Dec 23

text of obituary:

MRS. ELIZABETH JANZ

Mrs. Elizabeth (Pankratz) Janz, daughter of the Rev. Peter and Elizabeth Pankratz, was born December 23, 1875, in Paul's Valley, Russia.

In 1886 at the age of nine she immigrated to this country and located in the vicinity of the Alexandewohl church near Lehigh, Kansas, where she resided with her parents.

To her disadvantage, education was not available because of her mother's illness. On June 6, 1892, she realized her lost condition and accepted Christ and was baptized and united with the Alexanderwohl Church.

In the fall of 1892 she with her parents moved to Shelly, Oklahoma, and the following year was united in marriage to Leander Janz, spending her married life at Bessie, Mountain View and Cordell, Okla., where she resided until death. She joined the Sichar church and remained a conscientious, active member.

To this union were born five sons and six daughters.

The mother in her passing years suffered much but was always happy. On December 26, 1943, she and her husband had the priviledge [sic] of celebrating 50 years of married life together. The celebration was held with their children in their home in Cordell, which was granted them through the prayers of parents and children.

On January 13, 1944, the happy thoughts of this celebration were marred and mother was taken ill. Help was sought in the Clinton Hospital where she remained 13 days. but at her home on January 26, she suffered with a severe heart attack which was followed by pneumonia. Death came on Sunday morning, January 30, 1944, at 4:20 A. M. at the age of 68 years, 3 months and 24 days.

Preceding her in death were two sons, who died in infancy, and one daughter, Selma, who died on November 28, 1941. She leaves to mourn her departure her bereaved husband, Leander Janz; three sons, Simon, Leander, Jr., and Theodore; five daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Anna, Mary, and Helen; and 26 grandchildren five brothers, two sisters, and many friend and relatives.

The family feels the great loss of their mother, who has left them a fine Christian example and during their bereavement desire the prayers of the church.

Rev. Noah Unruh, who was the guest speaker at the anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Janz, also conducted her funeral services which were held at the Sichar church, Tuesday, Feb. 1.