Obituary for Peter Henry Janzen
Rev. Peter Henry Janzen
May 7, 1931 – January 21, 2023
Rev. Peter Henry Janzen, aged 91, was born to Bernhardt and Maria Janzen on May 7, 1931 in their home near Glencross, Manitoba. He was their second child, the only son with four sisters. When he was 7, he lost his father to a collision with a train and his family moved to his grandparents’ farmstead, living in a small house at the end of their driveway. Because of space constraints, he was housed in his grandparents’ home across the yard. His grandfather made a special effort to relate to him. Dad frequently spoke of chauffeuring his grandfather, an itinerant preacher, from church to church all over southern Manitoba. At age 18 Dad was baptized in the Morden Bergthaler Church.
Despite Mom having resolved never to get married, she obviously changed her mind, because on July 19, 1951 Dad married Dora Rempel, the love of his life. They spent 67 years together, raising two sons and five daughters. They began farming at Crystal City, Manitoba where their first daughter was born. When they moved from the farm to Winnipeg, Dad began work at a meat packing plant. His biceps got so big that Mom had to alter his shirt sleeves so they wouldn’t burst when he flexed his muscles. He had the opportunity to buy the store and gas bar at Tourond, Manitoba. In 1968 they sold the store and moved to Niverville. Meanwhile, he was ordained as a deacon in the Niverville Mennonite Church and on August 4, 1968 was ordained as their minister.
Dad was beginning to consider a career change. Because he hadn’t finished high school, and recognizing the need for more education, he took a number of courses at the Niverville Collegiate and finished his high school diploma at Steinbach Bible Institute. Driving school bus helped to feed the family. Subsequently he was accepted as an adult special student in theology at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree. He followed this up with a year of studies toward a degree in social work, graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972.
That spring, Peter and Dora were invited to pastor the Faith Mennonite Church in Leamington, Ontario. He spent a sabbatical year studying at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Elkhart, Indiana. After nine years in Leamington, Peter moved his family to Kitchener to become the Conference Minister of the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario. One of the biggest challenges he encountered was working through the amalgamation of three Mennonite Conferences to form the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada. Moving to Kitchener also gave him the opportunity for further studies at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
In 1991 Peter and Dora moved back to Manitoba to pastor the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Later he served for two years as interim pastor at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg and another year at the Whitewater Mennonite Church in Boissevain.
Although he retired from active ministry in 2000, his heart for people and ministry continued to be evident. He conducted numerous Bible studies and was frequently invited to speak in chapel services. He taught and preached and acted as a resource to an east Asian church in downtown Winnipeg. He took active leadership roles in the different retirement facilities in which he lived. His ready smile, hearty laugh, and warm personality will be sorely missed.
Dad loved history, and especially the genealogy of his forebears. He was a direct descendant of Jacob Hoeppner, one of the emissaries sent to explore the feasibility of the Mennonite relocation from Poland to the Ukrainian steppes. About two months before he died, he completed a multi-year project writing a book for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, in which he described the story of the Mennonites, their experiences in the Ukraine, and the subsequent migrations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He spent countless hours scanning photographs, researching, and assembling the information. He put together extensive and detailed accounts of the efforts of the Mennonite pioneers in Manitoba, specifically those of his own family members. It was a deeply satisfying pastime, especially after Mom died. He was concerned that his progeny come to understand and appreciate their roots.
Peter died in his home at Bethel Place, Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon, January 21, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife Dora, his parents, two sisters and three brothers-in-law. He leaves behind five daughters, two sons, fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren: Lois and John: Jonathan and Andrea (Avry, Kendra, Cohen, Seth); Tim and Kara (Olivia, Samantha, Jack); Jordan (Memphis); Toban and Elizabeth (Owen, Zoe); Henry: Blair; Leah and Ian: Alec, Vanessa; Amanda and John: Stephanie and Martin (Walter), Kate and Kyle (Gwen); Lillian and Lorne: Jaron and Abby (Elyse, Leila, Gabriel, Silas); Dara and Nick (Robinson, Oscar); Arlene and Lorry: Nita, Victor; Ivan and Sue: Laura, Zachary. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary (Henry) Patkau and Sarah Klassen, numerous nieces and nephews (all found in his genealogy charts), countless cousins, extended family members, and lots and lots of friends. Remarkably, if we ever mentioned someone’s name, Dad would almost always be able to tell us how they were related to him!
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street, Winnipeg. A private interment will take place at Green Acres Cemetery. Service will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/_iQ5g92BnLo
Donations in Peter’s memory may be made to Canadian Mennonite University or Mennonite Central Committee.
May 7, 1931 – January 21, 2023
Rev. Peter Henry Janzen, aged 91, was born to Bernhardt and Maria Janzen on May 7, 1931 in their home near Glencross, Manitoba. He was their second child, the only son with four sisters. When he was 7, he lost his father to a collision with a train and his family moved to his grandparents’ farmstead, living in a small house at the end of their driveway. Because of space constraints, he was housed in his grandparents’ home across the yard. His grandfather made a special effort to relate to him. Dad frequently spoke of chauffeuring his grandfather, an itinerant preacher, from church to church all over southern Manitoba. At age 18 Dad was baptized in the Morden Bergthaler Church.
Despite Mom having resolved never to get married, she obviously changed her mind, because on July 19, 1951 Dad married Dora Rempel, the love of his life. They spent 67 years together, raising two sons and five daughters. They began farming at Crystal City, Manitoba where their first daughter was born. When they moved from the farm to Winnipeg, Dad began work at a meat packing plant. His biceps got so big that Mom had to alter his shirt sleeves so they wouldn’t burst when he flexed his muscles. He had the opportunity to buy the store and gas bar at Tourond, Manitoba. In 1968 they sold the store and moved to Niverville. Meanwhile, he was ordained as a deacon in the Niverville Mennonite Church and on August 4, 1968 was ordained as their minister.
Dad was beginning to consider a career change. Because he hadn’t finished high school, and recognizing the need for more education, he took a number of courses at the Niverville Collegiate and finished his high school diploma at Steinbach Bible Institute. Driving school bus helped to feed the family. Subsequently he was accepted as an adult special student in theology at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree. He followed this up with a year of studies toward a degree in social work, graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972.
That spring, Peter and Dora were invited to pastor the Faith Mennonite Church in Leamington, Ontario. He spent a sabbatical year studying at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Elkhart, Indiana. After nine years in Leamington, Peter moved his family to Kitchener to become the Conference Minister of the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario. One of the biggest challenges he encountered was working through the amalgamation of three Mennonite Conferences to form the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada. Moving to Kitchener also gave him the opportunity for further studies at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
In 1991 Peter and Dora moved back to Manitoba to pastor the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Later he served for two years as interim pastor at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg and another year at the Whitewater Mennonite Church in Boissevain.
Although he retired from active ministry in 2000, his heart for people and ministry continued to be evident. He conducted numerous Bible studies and was frequently invited to speak in chapel services. He taught and preached and acted as a resource to an east Asian church in downtown Winnipeg. He took active leadership roles in the different retirement facilities in which he lived. His ready smile, hearty laugh, and warm personality will be sorely missed.
Dad loved history, and especially the genealogy of his forebears. He was a direct descendant of Jacob Hoeppner, one of the emissaries sent to explore the feasibility of the Mennonite relocation from Poland to the Ukrainian steppes. About two months before he died, he completed a multi-year project writing a book for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, in which he described the story of the Mennonites, their experiences in the Ukraine, and the subsequent migrations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He spent countless hours scanning photographs, researching, and assembling the information. He put together extensive and detailed accounts of the efforts of the Mennonite pioneers in Manitoba, specifically those of his own family members. It was a deeply satisfying pastime, especially after Mom died. He was concerned that his progeny come to understand and appreciate their roots.
Peter died in his home at Bethel Place, Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon, January 21, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife Dora, his parents, two sisters and three brothers-in-law. He leaves behind five daughters, two sons, fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren: Lois and John: Jonathan and Andrea (Avry, Kendra, Cohen, Seth); Tim and Kara (Olivia, Samantha, Jack); Jordan (Memphis); Toban and Elizabeth (Owen, Zoe); Henry: Blair; Leah and Ian: Alec, Vanessa; Amanda and John: Stephanie and Martin (Walter), Kate and Kyle (Gwen); Lillian and Lorne: Jaron and Abby (Elyse, Leila, Gabriel, Silas); Dara and Nick (Robinson, Oscar); Arlene and Lorry: Nita, Victor; Ivan and Sue: Laura, Zachary. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary (Henry) Patkau and Sarah Klassen, numerous nieces and nephews (all found in his genealogy charts), countless cousins, extended family members, and lots and lots of friends. Remarkably, if we ever mentioned someone’s name, Dad would almost always be able to tell us how they were related to him!
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street, Winnipeg. A private interment will take place at Green Acres Cemetery. Service will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/_iQ5g92BnLo
Donations in Peter’s memory may be made to Canadian Mennonite University or Mennonite Central Committee.