Janzen, Ezra F. (1896-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jan 16 p. 6

Birth date: 1896 Jun 15

text of obituary:

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— Funeral services for Ezra F. Janzen, 61, a resident of the Bethesda Home for Aged at Goessel the past 20 years, were held Monday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl church, Rev. P. A. Wedel in charge. Mr. Janzen died at the Home on Jan. 9. While confined to the Home he became skilled in making rugs and pillow tops. Surviving are three sisters and three brothers.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Feb 6 p. 8

text of obituary:

EZRA F. JANZEN

Ezra F. Janzen, son of Jacob C. and Elizabeth (Funk) Janzen, was born in the Brudertal community near Hillsboro, Kansas on June 15, 1896, and passed away Jan. 9, 1958, at the Bethesda Home in Goessel, Kansas.

He received his public school training in the community where he was born.

He was baptized by Rev. P. H. Unruh on May 12, 1940, and became a member of the Alexanderwohl Church, whose faithful member he remained until his death.

In his early years he was a farm laborer. At the beginning of 1930 he was stricken with a severe case of arthritis, which left him badly crippled. He stayed with his parents at Hillsboro until 1938 when both of his parents passed away. In August of the same year he was admitted to the Bethesda Home at Goessel, Kansas, which was his home until he died.

After he was confined to the Bethesda Home, he became interested in making pillow tops and rugs to pass the time. Ezra, as he was commonly called, was of a happy disposition. Even though greatly handicapped physically, he remained cheerful and lived above his physical limitation.

He will be greatly missed by everyone at the Home, as well as by the many friends who visited him and who admired his skill in handicrafts.

In the past year, he had several heart attacks. Several times he was taken to the Bethesda Hospital, after which he felt quite a bit better. On Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m. he had another heart attack, which was fatal. He reached the age of 61 years, six months and 24 days. His father and mother, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.

Surviving are three brothers, Jacob F. of Hillsboro, R. Floyd of Burbank, Calif., Frederic C. of Salt Lake City, Utah; three sisters, Mrs. Clara C. Young of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Ivan Baldwin (Elizabeth Ethel) of Sturges [sic Sturgis], South Dakota, and Mrs. Harry Michaelis (Lena) of Santa Marie, Calif.; eight nieces and eight nephews.

“So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Funeral services were conducted in the Bethesda Home and in the Alexanderwohl Church on Monday, Jan. 13, 1958, in charge of Rev. P. A. Wedel. Interment was made in the Alexanderwohl Church Cemetery. — Brothers and Sisters.