John Janzen

John was born July 3, 1913 at home at the family farm near Mountain Lake to Peter F. and Elisabeth (Klassen) Janzen. He had one brother, Henry, one sister Elizabeth, one half-brother, Frank and four half-sisters: Barbara, Agnes, Marie and Susie. He attended the German Elementary School through Grade 6, and then completed his high school years at the Mountain Lake High School, graduating in 1932. He then attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for electrical training. He began his career in electricity with Warkentin Electric in 1932. He married Elvira Klassen on June 24, 1941. John enlisted in the Army in October 1942. He was assigned to the Signal Corps, based on his electrical training. The Army continued his training at the University of Missouri (Rolla), University of California (Davis campus), and various other bases in the US. For most of his Army service he was stationed in India. He returned to Mountain Lake after his discharge in 1946. In 1947 he purchased Warkentin Electric and he and Elvira operated Janzen Electric until they retired in 1978, selling the business to Laker Electric. He was a member of the Minnesota Electrical Association for 54 years. John and Elvira had three children, Jack, Deb and Jerry. Elvira passed away on October 1, 1989. John married Iva Lawrence on November 11, 1991, who passed away in September 2005. John believed in serving others. He served 17 years on the ML Light and Power Board, nine years on the ML School Board and was President of the ML Centennial Planning Committee. He set up sound systems for countless community activities, including Pow Wow, Memorial Day, and Cottonwood County Fairs. Janzen Electric broadcast Christmas music when Santa came to the park. John loved music, listening to it, promoting it and making it. He participated in and promoted the ML Choral Society for 40 years. He was an active member of the ML Area Arts Council from 1933 on. He played Mellophone in the Zephyr Band for two years. He and Elvira were charter members of the touring New York Metropolitan Opera Guild, attending several operas each May held at Northrup Auditorium on the University of Minnesota campus. He negotiated two ML performances of the Minnesota Orchestra during the 1960s. John directed the First Mennonite Church Choir for more than 50 years and assembled the women's A Capella choir at the church. He is survived by his three children: Jack (Margaret) of Minneapolis, Deb (Terry Shoptaugh) of Moorhead and Jerry (Robin) of Eden Prairie; five grandchildren, Joe of Minneapolis, Katy of Boulder, CO , Amelia Shoptaugh of St. Paul, Anne of Brooklyn Center and Laura of St. Peter; one sister, Elizabeth of Dinuba, California and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter F. and Elisabeth Janzen, wife, Elvira and wife, Iva, his brothers; Frank and Henry and his sisters; Barbara Heppner, Agnes Penner, Marie Thiessen and Susie Eitzen. The family is requesting memorials to the First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake or Mennonite Central Committee.