Lawrence Walter Janzen

Lawrence Janzen, age 77, of Butterfield, died at his home on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Lawrence Walter Janzen was born May 24, 1940 in Mt. Lake, MN, the son of Walter and Helen (Henze) Janzen. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Darfur, where he was a lifelong member. Lawrence was a farmer for nearly all of his life. He served in the Air Force from 1961-1965 and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and New Mexico. After being discharged from the Air Force he continued to live and work in Albuquerque until he returned to Minnesota to assist with the Janzen family farm, where he and his brother Eldon farmed until their retirement in 2009. In 2006, the Janzen family farm received "Century Farm" status from the Farm Bureau, having been farmed by the Janzen family since 1877. On November 29, 1969, he married Karen Menssen and the couple had 3 children; Michelle, Lesley and Jason. Karen passed away on September 23, 2009. On October 2, 2011, Lawrence married Darlene Ebbenga. Lawrence served on many boards, including the Adrian township board, Darfur Elevator board, Watonwan County Fair Board, Butterfield-Odin School Board and Watonwan County Farm Bureau, and he was also a member of the Butterfield VFW. He enjoyed listening to music, dancing, playing cards, doing Sudoku and bird watching. He also loved to travel with his family and traveled to France, Mali, Germany, Hawaii and most of the other states. Lawrence is survived by his wife Darlene of Butterfield, MN; 3 children and 2 grandchildren, Michelle (Jason) Sticken and their son Zachary of Morristown, MN, Lesley Janzen and her daughter Eve of New York, NY and Jason Janzen of Baraboo, WI; siblings, Arlene (Gerald) Hodapp of Mankato, MN, Eldon (JoAnn) Janzen of Butterfield, MN, Daniel (Janie) Janzen of Champlin, MN, Carl (Shari) Janzen of Delano, MN, Sylvia (Scott) Norman of Mankato, MN, sister-in-law Peggy Janzen of Delano, MN; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives. He is preceded in death by his first wife Karen, a daughter in infancy, parents, sister Elaine Thorkelson and brother James Janzen. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Monday, April 16, 2018 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Visitation 2 9:30 am - 10:30 am Tuesday, April 17, 2018 St. John's Lutheran Church-Darfur HIGHWAY 30 & Adrian St Darfur, Minnesota, United States 56022 Service Information 10:30 am Tuesday, April 17, 2018 St. John's Lutheran Church-Darfur HIGHWAY 30 & Adrian St Darfur, Minnesota, United States 56022 Interment Information St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Darfur 1/2 mile west of Darfur on Hwy 30 Darfur, Minnesota, United States 56022 Military honors provided by the Butterfield VFW Honor Guard Fellowship Fellowship and lunch to follow burial at the Darfur Hall.