View source for Janzen, David P. (1882-1965)

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David Peter Janzen: elder and minister; was born on 29 January 1882 in Franzthal, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Mennonite Settlement]], South Russia. He was the fourth of six children of Peter J. Janzen (24 October 1850, Franzthal, Molotschna, South Russia – 12 June 1915, Rudnerweide, Molotschna, South Russia) and Katharina (Becker) Janzen (27 October 1854, Franzthal, Molotschna, South Russia – 4 October 1918). On 8 September 1907 he married Barbara Esau (d. 12 June 1917, South Russia). They had two daughters, Barbara and Katharina. After the death of his first wife, David married Margaretha Thiessen (11 October 1889, Rudnerweide, Molotschna, South Russia – 4 April 1976, [[Coaldale (Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale]], Alberta, Canada), daughter of Franz Thiessen (b. 1845) and Maria (Dyck) Thiessen (b. 1856), on 17 May 1918. David and Margaretha had five children: David, Frank, Maria, Margaret, and Peter. David died on 14 May 1965 in Coaldale, Alberta, and was buried on 17 May 1965 in the [[Springridge Mennonite Church (Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada)|Springridge Mennonite Church]] Cemetery in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

David received his elementary education in his home village of Franzthal, Molotschna and was baptized in Rudnerweide, Molotschna on 21 May 1901. On 14 May 1909 Janzen was elected to the ministry in his home church.

In August 1924 the family left [[Russia]] to come to [[Canada]] but their journey was diverted to Rosario, [[Mexico]], due to failing the medical examination. After their enforced two-year sojourn the David Janzens arrived in Stirling, [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]] in 1926. In March of the following year they moved to a farm near Springridge, Alberta in the Pincher Creek area. 

On 29 July 1928 Janzen was chosen to be the minister of the recently founded Blumenthaler Mennonite Church (later [[Springridge Mennonite Church (Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada)|Springridge Mennonite Church]]) near Pincher Creek, Alberta. He was called to be [[Elder (Ältester)|Elder]] (Ältester) of the church on 3 April 1931 and ordained on 29 May 1932. Janzen spent much time traveling to isolated settlements where there were no ministers, and his responsibilities included performing baptisms and serving communion. Janzen served as Elder until 1954.

David retired to Coaldale, Alberta in 1962 after 45 years in the ministry, and passed away on 24 July 1965. He was buried in the Springridge Mennonite Church Cemetery, near the church that he had served so faithfully.
= Bibliography =
GRANDMA (The '''G'''enealogical '''R'''egistry '''an'''d '''D'''atabase of '''M'''ennonite '''A'''ncestry) Database, 17-09 ed. Fresno, CA: [http://calmenno.org/index.htm" California Mennonite Historical Society], 2017: #766847.

Klassen, Irene. ''Their Mark: Their Legacy''. Calgary, Alberta: Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta, 2006.

"Rev David P. Janzen." Find A Grave. 28 July 2011. Web. 3 December 2017. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74078804/david-p.-janzen.
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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:Elders]]