Janzen, Archie Willard (1925-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Dec 17 p. 2

Birth date: 1925

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jan 16 p. 11

text of obituary:

ARCHIE WILLARD JANZEN

Archie Willard Janzen of Boise, Idaho, died Dec. 5, 2005. He was born in 1925 to John and Margaret Janzen in Newton, Kan.

He grew up on a farm outside Hesston, Kan. He married Erma Hershberger on July 28, 1948.

He began his teaching career in a three-room schoolhouse in Hesston and continued for 35 years with stints in California, Nampa and Boise in Idaho. During his teaching career he served as president of Idaho Classroom Teachers Association. He had a knack for developing athletic skills in young athletes.

He faithfully served the church in many roles. He was a skilled carpenter who built homes for his family in California and Idaho. From his early boyhood he developed a love for baseball and remained a loyal Cubs fan. Early in life he became a student of nature and longtime advocate of the Audubon Society. He nurtured both of these in his well-tended garden. In 1987 he retired from teaching, but remained an educator the rest of his life.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Erma; five children, Brenda, Jerald, Monica, Donnel and Thomas; a brother, Samuel Janzen of Harrisonburg, Va.; a sister, Amy Hershberger of Hesston; nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Waldo; and three sisters, Edna, Marie and Helen.

Memorial services were held at First Presbyterian Church of Boise.