View source for Jantzen, Aron J. (1899-1985)

[[File:JantzenAron.jpg|250px|thumb|right|''Aron Jantzen.<br />
Source: Bethel Mennonite Church 1936-1980, p. 18 '']]
Aron J. Jantzen: minister; born 12 August 1899 (30 July Julian calendar) in Franztal, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Colony]], South [[Russia|Russia]], the second of three sons of Rev. Johann D. (b. 13 February 1874) and Elisabeth (Rempel) Jantzen (13 May 1873 - 31 January 1941). He was baptized on 11 May 1918 in [[Karassan Mennonite Church (Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine)|Karassan]], [[Crimea (Ukraine)|Crimea]], and married Katharina "Tina" Wiens (25 May 1899, Danilovka, Crimea – 3 January 1968, British Columbia, Canada) in Isapuato, [[Mexico|Mexico]] on 18 May 1925. She was the daughter of Johann and Susanna (Unruh) Wiens. They had three sons and two daughters: Wilmar, John, Leonard, Irene and Dora. Aron died 30 August 1985 in [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], BC.

Aron Jantzen was born and educated in Russia and immigrated with his parents to [[Mexico|Mexico]] in 1924, where he married Tina. They and his parents moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1926 and relocated to Moosomin, Saskatchewan before their move to Yarrow, BC in 1928. In 1934 the Jantzens along with seven other families purchased land in the Coghlan area of Langley, BC.

Jantzen was ordained to the ministry on 28 July 1935 by [[Bahnmann, Nicolai W. (1879-1945) &amp; Bahnmann, Meta Regier (1887-1975)|N. W. Bahnmann]]. He along with [[Dueck, Heinrich H. (1904-1995)|H. H. Dueck]] and [[Baerg, Jacob J. (1890-1978)|Jacob J. Baerg]] provided leadership in the Coghlan Mennonite Church (later [[Bethel Mennonite Church (Langley, British Columbia, Canada)|Bethel Mennonite Church]]), which included serving as choir director and as Sunday school teacher. When Bahnmann started the Coghlan Bible School, Jantzen served as one of the instructors in 1939-40. In terms of the larger provincial conference, Jantzen served on several occasions as the vice-chair of the conference in 1946, 1947 and 1951 and as the secretary for the Conference of Ministers from 1937 to 1944 and again in 1947 and 1948.

Jantzen's ministry extended beyond the Coghlan/Aldergrove area to the Mennonites in Abbotsford. He often pedaled his bicycle to Abbotsford on Sunday morning regardless of the weather conditions, and it was not unusual for him to ride a bicycle all the way to Vancouver, Sardis or Yarrow on Sunday mornings.

Jantzen retired towards the end of the 1960s.
= Bibliography =
<em class="gameo_bibliography"> Bethel Mennonite Church: 1936-1980</em>. Aldergrove: Bethel Mennonite Church, n.d.

<em class="gameo_bibliography"> Bethel Mennonite Church: 1980-1986</em>. Aldergrove: Bethel Mennonite Church, 1987.

<em class="gameo_bibliography"> Der Bote</em> (23 January 1968): 12; (6 November 1985): 7.
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[[Category:Bethel Bible Institute Faculty and Staff]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church British Columbia Ministers]]