Juanita J. Janzen

Juanita J. Janzen was born to Jacob Roy and Selma Miller Preheim on a farm near Freeman, South Dakota on November 15, 1938. She passed away on January 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 4H 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 Kansas where she received a BS 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 that 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 childrens’ Sunday school and she and Leon were active in the WOW (Whitestone on Wednesday) childrens’ 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 included 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, CA, a sister, Sally, (Eldon), of Durham, North Carolina, grandchildren, Zach Buller, Rachel Janzen, Carly Janzen, Chase Janzen and a number of nieces and nephews. A Memorial service is planned for 10:30 AM on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at the Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston, KS. Visitation with family will be from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, January 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.

Juanita J. Janzen

November 15, 1938 - January 3, 2015