Ernie was the twelfth child (sixth son) out of thirteen children born to Katharina and Heinrich Janzen. He was born on July 1, 1943 in St. Rose, Manitoba.
He accepted the Lord as his saviour at about age six. This love for Jesus continued to grow throughout his entire life. The Janzens were a very musical family, and they were always singing hymns and songs together.
He spent eight years in Bower School, then two more years taking Gr. 9 and 10 by correspondence there. In about 1959,