Juanita J. Janzen
Obituary
HESSTON - Juanita J. Janzen, 76, passed
away on Jan. 3, 2015, at Pine Village, Moundridge.
Arrangements are pending at Miller-Ott
Funeral Home, Hesston.
Funeral Home
Miller-Ott Funeral Home - Hesston
P.O. Box 33 107 South Lancaster
Hesston, KS 67062
620-327-2685
Published in The Kansan from Jan. 6 to
Jan. 8, 201
Juanita J. Janzen 1938-2015
Juanita J. Janzen was born to Jacob Roy
and Selma Miller Preheim on Nov. 15, 1938, on a farm near Freeman,
South Dakota. She passed away on Jan. 3, 2015, at the age of 76
years.
She grew up on a farm east of Freeman
and attended a two-roomed rural elementary school and Freeman Academy
and Junior College. She was active in 4-H in the areas of cooking and
sewing, both of which she continued into adulthood. She presented
state fair demonstrations in cooking and sewed many of her own
clothes, including blazers and her own wedding dress and attendants'
dresses.
She earned a teaching degree from
Freeman Junior College, after which she taught for one year at a
one-roomed elementary school in rural Freeman. She continued her
education at Bethel College in North Newton, where she received a
bachelor of science degree in elementary education. While at Bethel
she met Leon. They both graduated in May of 1961 and were married on
June 8, 1961, in the Salem Mennonite Church in rural Freeman.
She knew early on she wanted to be a
teacher and thoroughly enjoyed the classroom. Her 29-year teaching
career included positions in South Dakota, Kansas, Africa and
Germany. Twenty of those years were spent teaching in Hesston. She
was an excellent teacher and received much affirmation for her
efforts.
While Juanita was very committed to
teaching, she was even more committed to her family. Kim was born in
1962, and Chad completed the family in 1965. They have many memories
of family trips and hours spent playing card games. Extended family
also has memories of dinners and gatherings hosted at Leon and
Juanita's home. She was fortunate to have both of her children and
their families nearby, and she looked forward to spending time with
them whenever possible.
Juanita was a member of the Whitestone
Mennonite Church. She enjoyed her Sunday school class and their many
activities. She taught children's Sunday school, and she and Leon
were active in the WOW (Whitestone on Wednesday) children's program
for many years. She loved to sing and took joy in being a part of the
choir.
She enjoyed adventure and traveling and
trips, including a number of cruises, road trips and a trip around
the world.
Juanita was very healthy physically,
which was partially due to her enjoyment of walking. For many years
she would walk a three-mile route several times a week. Landscape
gardening and just working in the backyard were a pleasant pastime
for her.
Juanita was preceded in death by her
parents, Jacob Roy and Selma Preheim.
She is survived by her husband, Leon,
of the home; a daughter, Kim Janzen (Tim Buller) of McPherson; a son,
Chad (Rhonda) Janzen of Wichita; a brother, Vern Preheim (Norma
Johnson) of North Newton; a sister, Birdie (Myron) Paine of Martinez,
California; a sister, Sally (Eldon) of Durham, North Carolina;
grandchildren, Zach Buller, Rachel Janzen, Carly Janzen and Chase
Janzen; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is planned for 10:30
a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at the Whitestone Mennonite Church in
Hesston. Visitation with family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan.
16, also at the Whitestone Mennonite Church. Inurnment will be at a
later date at Eastlawn Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established
with Mennonite Central Committee, in care of the Miller-Ott Funeral
Home, 107 Lancaster, P.O. Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
