John Cornelius Janzen

1909 – 1985

John Cornelius Janzen was born March 30, 1909 to Cornelius Franz and Elizabeth Janzen in Borosov, Russia. His mother died when he was four. The family moved to a pioneer settlement in the province of Tambov, where he went to school. In 1926 they immigrated to Drake, Saskatchewan where they found work on local farms. A promise of further schooling was never fulfilled. John accepted Christ as a young man and was baptized into the Philadelphia MB Church in Watrous, Saskatchewan.

On March 22, 1936, he married Katie Braun of Guernsey, Saskatchewan, a union blessed with seven children. The same year (1936), they moved to Greendale, B.C., later moving to Sumas Prairie, B.C. and they attended Yarrow MB Church.

On July 7, 1945, they moved to Yarrow, B.C. where he established a dairy farm and worked fulltime in a sawmill. While still operating the farm in the early 1950’s, he attended Elim Bible School in Yarrow graduation about 1953. On April 16, 1956 they moved to another farm and worked on a larger dairy farm with his three younger sons until retirement.

In 1973, they moved to a home near the church. He served as church treasurer for ten years. He loved good preaching and the old hymns.

John passed away May 30, 1985. He was predeceased by his son Elmer in 1982; he is survived by his wife Katie; children Marvin, Willie, Eleanore, Alvin, Ben and David, 16 grandchildren, one brother and one sister.


Katie Braun Janzen

Katie Janzen of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Feb. 10, 2000.

She was born Jan. 15, 1914 to Isaac and Sara Braun in Osterwick, Russia. In 1923 the family immigrated to Guernsey, Sask. Work on the farm was hard. She was unable to attend school beyond the elementary grades. She learned to speak and write English fluently by herself. She was a good speller. During her teens, she worked as a maid.

They worshipped in homes but occasionally she got to ride to Philadelphia MB Church in Watrous, Sask. 25 miles away. She accepted Christ in this church during evangelistic services led by Abraham P. Nachtigal. She was baptized Aug. 22, 1933.


She married John C. Janzen Mar. 22, 1936. They immediately moved to Sardis, B.C. In 1938 they started a small dairy farm in Yarrow, B.C. In 1945 they bought a 10-acre dairy farm. In 1946 they joined Yarrow MB Church. In 1956 they bought a larger dairy farm.

In 1973 they retired from farming, moving closer to the church. John died May 30, 1985. In 1986 she moved to Evergreen Village in Clearbrook, B.C. She enjoyed reading, cooking, baking and crocheting. She attended Clearbrook MB Church and was happy to receive Bible studies over the radio intercom, but remained a member at Yarrow MB Church. Psalm 116:15 was marked in her Bible.

She had "Home at last" engraved on the tombstone for her and John. She enjoyed good health until Jan. 8, 2000, when she entered the hospital and passed away February 10th, 2000.

Predeceased by John, son Elmer in 1982, 4 brothers and 4 sisters, she is mourned by her sons and daughter; 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.








Photo taken of Katie Braun Janzen on June 19th 1999 at the 70 years homecoming at Yarrow MB Church