Marie (Peters) Janzen, age 99 of Henderson, died Thursday, June 25, 2026.
She was born May 27, 1927 to Cornelius C. and Sarah (Thieszen) Peters at Henderson with four older brothers: Chris, Abe, Jake and Gus.
Marie attended school at District 31 near her parent’s home south of Henderson. It was so close, she said, that she could easily run home at noon and didn’t need to pack a lunch. She attended high school in Henderson at District 95. In the fall of her junior year her parents moved to town a block away from the high school. She was valedictorian of her class, and had to memorize her speech for graduation. Her senior class performed the play “Anne of Green Gables”, and in the theatrical adaptations of that book, Anne (played by Marie) kisses Gilbert Blythe, conveniently played by her future husband, Maurice.
After high school Marie went on to York College and got her teaching degree and was hired to teach at District 73E in Hamilton County. She thought the 13 kids in her school wasn’t too much, considering country school days at District 31 she had 42 classmates in grades 1-8. District 73E school was later moved to the Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park and restored in 2009, where you can visit it today.
After teaching for 3 years, Marie married Maurice Janzen at Bethesda Mennonite Church on June 7, 1949. They had three children: Paul, Jane and Barry. In 1959 when Maurice left the Hardware Store and started his own business, Janzen Electric, the whole family got involved, and Marie often worked in the office on Main Street.
Marie played piano for the Men’s Chorus and was on the organ committee that helped bring the pipe organ to Bethesda Mennonite Church. She was a member of the Garden Club, Mission Circle, the Hospital Auxiliary and enjoyed sewing and quilting as long as her eyesight allowed her. She enjoyed golfing and gardening with her husband, Maurice.
Maurice retired in 1990, and not long after they volunteered for Mennonite Central Committee offices and moved to Akron, Pennsylvania for 3½ months. They later enjoyed traveling on bus tours throughout the US and Canada.
Marie is survived by her 3 children, daughter, Jane (Mike) Schmidt of North Newton, Kan.; sons, Paul (Audrey) Janzen of Henderson and Barry (Cindy) Janzen of Longmont, Colo.; grandchildren, Kara (Daniel) Robben of Seattle, Washington, Craig (Katie) Epp of Elkhorn, Kiley (Ryan) Escamilla of Lincoln, Kimberly (Scott) Keys of Lincoln, Wade (Jaydon) Janzen of Henderson, Carisa Janzen of Golden, Colorado, Drew (Julia) Janzen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alex Janzen of Basalt, Colorado and fourteen great grandchildren.
She is also survived by sisters-in-law Jean Janzen of Loveland, Colorado and Elvera Peters of Freeman, South Dakota and brother-in-law Myron (Arlyce) Friesen of Henderson and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband Maurice, her parents and parents-in-law, her four brothers; 3 brothers-in-law, 6 sisters-in-law and a daughter-in-law, Nancy Janzen.
Graveside services will be held at 9:45 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2026, in the Bethesda Cemetery northeast of Henderson, followed by a Memorial service at 10:30 a.m., at the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. Visitation will be held from 1-9 p.m., Wednesday, with the family greeting friends from 7-9 p.m. that evening, all at Metz Mortuary in Henderson. Memorials may be directed to the Bethesda Mennonite Church.