Helena (Lena) Sukkau (Janzen)

Mrs. Lena Sukkau (Janzen) of Winnipeg went to be with the Lord on December 20, 1979. She was born to Kornelius & Anna (Boschmann) Janzen on March 24, 1903 in Rosenort, Molotschna, South Russia. Seven years later her family moved to Rueckenau where she attended grammar and advanced schools.

At age 17 she made a commitment to the Lord and found peace in her heart. She was baptized May 10, 1920 and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren church in Rueckenau, Molotschna, South Russia. She enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school.

She married Gerhard H. Sukkau on August 1, 1924 at Rueckenau, Molotschna, South Russia, and in the same month the couple immigrated to Canada. After seven months in Ontario, they settled on a farm in Arnaud, Man., where they lived for 14 years. Then they moved Yarrow, BC where her husband taught at Elim Bible School for 14 years. After that they served for seven years in Paraguay. In 1959 they came to Winnipeg and joined the Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church. Her husband died in 1965.

Lena enjoyed fellowshipping with the "family of believers" at Elmwood and with the ladies auxiliary. Shortly before her death, she wrote: "My constant solace remains. 'My time, O Lord is in thine hands.' And whether now or later we will finally see what we have believed. The song I love is the one that tells us how in eternity we will never be a stranger, for the Lord had prepared a heavenly home for us."

She leaves to mourn her passing, one daughter, Irma Sukkau of Winnipeg, one sister, Lydia Janzen and two brothers, Jake and Peter Janzen of B.C. and many other relatives and friends. The funeral service was held in the Elmwood church with pastor P.R. Toews officiating.