David Janzen

David H. Janzen, the oldest of five sons of Henry H. and Susie (Penner) Janzen, was born on May 19, 1925 on the family farm near Butterfield, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake, Minnesota on February 14, 1999. He received his education through the Mountain Lake School system, and on September 28,1943 when Dave was a senior at Mountain Lake High School he entered the United states Navy to help his country fight World Warr II. He spent 32 months in the Navy aboard the minesweeper ship, USS Device, as a diesel mechanic and gunner, and he was honorably discharged on May 1, 1946. After returning home, he worked at the Mountain Lake Creamery for four years. He was united in marriage to Wendy Nordby on January 16, 1950, and to this union twin daughters Paulette and Pam were born. Over the years he was employed as a truck driver for Butterfield Produce and Tony Downs Foods, after which he managed the Darfur Liquor Store, VFW at Butterfield, and the American Legion Club in Windom. At the age of 74, he received his high school diploma through the Minnesota Diplomas for Vets program at a special Veteran's Day ceremony on November 11, 1999. Golfing was Dave's favorite pastime, he also enjoyed fishing, and in his retirement years he enjoyed woodworking and built many birdhouses and feeders which adorn the yards of his family and friends. He will always be remembered for his teasing personality, and his enjoyment of visiting with his friends over coffee - especially at the Mountain Lake C-Store. Dave passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at the good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake after a short battle with bone cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife Wendy on August 31, 1995; his parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Vesta Janzen; brother-in-law, Omar Bud Nordby; and a sister-in-law, Iris Anderson. Dave is survived by his two daughters, Paulette Chester and her husband Larry of Kasson, Minnesota and Pam Oltmans and her husband George of Windom, MN; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; three brothers, Ted Janzen and his wife Marge of Mountain Lake, Carl Janzen and his friend Theresa Wollschlager of St. James, Minnesota, and kid brother, Danny janzen and his wife Margaret of Mountain Lake; many other relatives and friends.