Peter A. Janzen finished his race and was welcomed into the arms his Saviour on February 28, 2007. He was born in Lugowoje, Russia on October 12, 1932. His father was imprisoned and shot before Peter began school. Much of his childhood after that was spent traveling with his mother, under the protection of the German army, ending up in Germany as a young teen.
In 1947 he and his mother emigrated to Paraguay, where he finished his schooling. He was baptized in September, 1949. In 1954 he moved to Montevideo, Uruguay to take on a job in the MCC office. This is where he met and married his wife Erika Friesen. In 1964 they moved to Curitiba, Brazil, in order for their children to receive a Christian education. In 1967 the family emigrated to BC, Canada. He practiced accounting in Vancouver for 17 years. He was a firm but loving parent who was there when he was needed. He loved showing hospitality, serving with the Gideons and giving to missions. He took a lot of pride in his grandchildren. In 1985 he and his wife moved to Abbotsford, where he continued accounting until his first strokes in 1992. His wonderful ability to remember details and compute in his head quickly faded. In 1997 he had a stroke that paralyzed his left side and a few years later was admitted to the Menno Hospital, needing more help for his everyday living needs. He will be missed by his loving wife of 50 years, Erika, daughter Anneliese (Herb) Friesen, son Helmut (Carrie) Janzen and daughter Monika (Bob) Thiessen, 10 grandchildren (plus four in-law grandchildren), three great-grandchildren, brother with family (Abram Funk, son of father’s first marriage, adopted and raised by another family), extended relatives and many friends.
The family would like to thank the staff at Menno Hospital for their loving care over the past six years. Funeral services are planned for Monday, March 5, at Central Heights Church. Donations to LOGOS Ministry or the Gideons would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.