Siemens, Anna Janzen (1866-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary:1954 Feb 4 p. 9

Birth date: 1866 Dec 31

MRS. ANNA SIEMENS

Mrs. Anna Siemens was born in Altschoenwiese, Ukraine, Russia on Dec. 31, 1866, and died on the day after her 87th birthday at her home, 745 Dudley Avenue, Fresno Calif. Because she was in frail health, she had observed her birthday by celebrating it quietly with members of her family. Present were her two daughters, Mrs. Esther Esau of Dairs (?) and Elfrieda Siemens of Fresno, a son, Paul Siemens, daughter-in-law Helen, and two grandchildren, Peter and Paula Siemens.

She also is survived by a brother, Henry Janzen, who resides in Lynden, Wash.

Her parents, Henry and Margaretha Entz Janzen, came to America in 1877 to make their home on the prairie near Mountain Lake, Minn. She was then ten years old. Upon her confession of faith she was baptized in 1886 by Rev. Gerhart Neufeld and was received as a member of the First Mennonite church.

On August 25, 1894, she was married to her childhood friend, Julius Siemens, also a member of a pioneer family who had settled in Mountain Lake in 1879. Five months ago, shortly before their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary, Mr. Siemens preceded her in death at the age of 90.

As her husband was active during the greater part of his life in colonization work among Mennonites, they lived in various communities including Altona, Manitoba and Ritzville, Wash., before moving to California 43 years ago. In 1918 she was received into the First Mennonite church at Reedley where she remained a faithful member until her death.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Aaron J. Epp or January 5, 1954, in the first Mennonite church, Reedley, Calif.