Obituary of Margaret Janzen

MARGARET JANZEN (nee Leiding) October 4, 1937 – June 13, 2009. Margaret was born in the small hamlet of Hamburg, just south of Swift Current. Her parents Wilhelm and Elisabeth had seven children; Margaret, Anna, Elizabeth, Abe, Pete, Kathy and Willie. When Margaret was 17 years old, her mom died. This left a lot of responsibility to Margaret in helping raise her younger siblings and performing general housework. When she was 19 years old she married John Janzen and together they had six children; Dwayne, Robert, Ron, Alan, Luella and Gale. Most of her life she lived on a farm just south of Swift Current and a few years on a farm in Manitoba. Margaret said she liked having her hands in the dirt, so farming and gardening were a perfect fit for her! She also worked a few years part-time at a seniors care home in Swift Current. Mom always enjoyed her music, especially the piano and organ; she was somewhat able to pass this gift on to her children. Although she encouraged them to try the guitar, piano, violin and accordion. Time spent with family was something she could never get enough of, especially when the grandkids came along. When Margaret was 52 years old, her husband John died, thus leaving a large void in her life. Friends seemed to fill that void with many weekend getaways across the border and time spent with her Bible Study and prayer partners. Mom’s love for travel is something that has been passed down to the next generation. When the family was young it was common for us to do two trips to Malta and Sleeping Buffalo per year. Also, mom and dad would travel regularly to B.C. each year during fruit season and return to Swift Current with boxes full of fruit which was soon canned or turned into jams and jellies! Mom committed her life to Christ and was baptized when she was young. Passing on a Christian heritage to her kids and grandkids was very important to her. This is something we will always remember her for and be thankful for. Painting is also something mom took up in the last few years, and has left us with a few treasured pictures to remember her by. A favorite being “Tranquility”. The car accident in November 2007 started a series of health problems that would eventually be more than her body could deal with. We appreciate her friends with how they stood close by during the past year. Mom moved to Swift Current in 2004 and remained there for the rest of her life.