Lester E. Janzen, 79, of North Newton,
died Tuesday (Oct. 8, 2002) at Kidron Bethel Retirement Village in
North Newton. He was born Nov. 12, 1922, to Peter G. and Eva
(Huebert) Janzen in Henderson, Neb. They preceded him in death. He
married Eileen D. Epp March 4, 1944, in Henderson. She survives of
the home. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He
graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and Goshen College.
He was pastor of Bethel Mennonite Church in
Perkasie, Pa., and also at Menno
Mennonite Church in Ritzville, Wash. He was the stewardship secretary
for the General Conference for 11 years, fund-raiser for Mennonite
Biblical Seminary and also for Meadowlark for several years, estate
planner with the Mennonite Foundation for 15 years and board member
at Kidron Bethel Retirement Village for 12 years. He was a member of
Faith Mennonite Church in Newton for 39 years. After his retirement,
he spent a number of years scheduling the traveling museum of the
Mirror of the Martyrs display for Kauffman Museum in many areas in
the United States and Canada.
Other survivors include: two sons, Joel
Janzen and wife Natalie of Denver and Scott Janzen and wife Karen of
Evergreen, Colo.; three daughters, Cheri Jantzen and husband Dave of
Houston, Judith Janzen and husband Robert Nikkel of Salem, Ore., and
Faith Janzen of Overland Park; a sister, Eva Tessman of Hillsboro; a
mother-in-law, Marie Epp Siebert of Henderson; and seven
grandchildren, Kristen and Eric Allen, Trey Jantzen, Brandon Jantzen,
Jessica Nikkel, Lucas Nikkel, Sydney Janzen and Oliver Janzen.
He also was preceded in death by: three
brothers, Nick Janzen, Peter E. Janzen and Johnny Janzen; a sister,
Elizabeth Friesen; and a father-in-law, Dietrich G. Epp.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday with family greeting friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, all at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Faith
Mennonite Church with Pastor Gordon Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials have been established with
the Kidron Bethel Assisted Living Project, Hospice Care of Kansas and
Faith Mennonite Church, all in care of the funeral home.
