View source for Janz, Benjamin (1849-1916)

Benjamin Janz: Mennonite Brethren minister and elder; born 31 March 1849 in Waldheim, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Mennonite Settlement]], South Russia. His parents were Benjamin Janz (b. 2 December 1813) and Elisabeth (Thiart) Janz (b. 24 January 1817). On 14 November 1872 Benjamin married Helena Penner (13 October 1850, [[Landskrone (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Landskrone]], Molotschna – 26 March 1936, Main Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada), daughter of Jacob Penner (1828-1889) and Helena (Dueck) Penner (1828-1898). Benjamin and Helena had 10 children (their eldest child died young): Elisabeth, Johann, Jacob, Margaretha, Benjamin, Heinrich, Peter, Abram, Lydia, and Nikolas. Benjamin died on 25 September 1916 in Main Centre, Saskatchewan, where he was buried.

Benjamin was converted in 1869 and joined the [[Mennonite Brethren Church]] by baptism in 1870. He was elected to the ministry in 1882 and served in that capacity for 29 years. 

Benjamin and his family immigrated to [[Canada]] in 1903 and lived a short time in Manitoba before settling in Main Centre, Saskatchewan. Janz helped organize the [[Main Centre Mennonite Brethren Church (Main Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Bethel (later Main Centre) Mennonite Brethren Church]] and was ordained an Elder in 1907, serving until his retirement in 1915.

Janz served the Herbert Kreis (Circuit) of Mennonite Brethren churches throughout southern [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]] and was a prominent leader in the [[Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches|Northern District Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church]], serving as Assistant Moderator from the conference’s inception in 1910 until 1915.

Benjamin's grandsons were [[Janz, Leo (1919-2006)|Leo Janz]] and [[Janz, Hildor (1921-2007)|Hildor Janz]], members of the Janz Team.
= Bibliography =
GRANDMA (The '''G'''enealogical '''R'''egistry '''an'''d '''D'''atabase of '''M'''ennonite '''A'''ncestry) Database, 7.04 ed. Fresno, CA: [http://calmenno.org/index.htm" California Mennonite Historical Society], 2013: #39100.

Lohrenz, John H. ''The Mennonite Brethren Church''. Hillsboro, KS: The Board of Foreign Missions of The Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America, 1950: 305.
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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:Elders]]