Janzen, Melita Loewen (1931-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Mar 2 p. 2

Birth date: 1931 Mar 15

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Mar 7 p. 11

text of obituary:

MELITA JANZEN

Melita Janzen, 73, a lifetime resident of the Reedley, Calif., area, died Feb. 10, 2005. She was born March 15, 1931, to Frank F. and Marieche (Voth) Loewen in Reedley.

Her family lived on several farms in the Planada, Reedley and Dinuba areas, and she attended elementary schools in the Watoke, Lincoln, Grant and Great Western schools in and near Reedley. The oldest of three children, she and her siblings were called upon to help with farm chores, where she became quite proficient at turning raising trays and driving a tractor between the grape rows.

She was baptized on her confession of faith and joined First Mennonite Church of Reedley on May 16, 1948. She graduated from Reedley High School in 1949.

On Sept. 1, 1950, she married Milton W. Janzen at First Mennonite Church of Reedley.

She remained a member of First Mennonite Church her entire life. She devoted her adult life to being a homemaker and was skilled at sewing, crocheting and cooking. She thoroughly enjoyed crocheting and made many doilies, Christmas ornaments and other projects, which she was proud to display or give away, including a beautiful tablecloth for each of her children.

Survivors include two sons, Dennis Janzen and his wife, Jeanne, of Clovis, and Jerry Janzen of Reedley; a daughter, Annette Vix and her husband, Lyndon, of Wichita, Kan.; a brother, John Loewen and his wife, Sue, of Reedley; a sister, Martha Wedel and her husband, Wilmer, of Elbing, Kan.; a sister-in-law, Thelma Hinz of Fresno; a brother-in-law, Bob Chapman of the Bay area; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton, on Aug. 26, 1993; and by an infant sister, Mariechen.

Funeral services were held at the Evangelical Free Church in Reedley. Burial was in the Reedley Cemetery.