Janzen, Ernest

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, his sister Hilda returned from Ontario and they travelled to McCreary together to finish their high school education.  They lived in the Bolt farm on the main road to McCreary at this time.  He spent one year in Ontario (1956-57) when the family all moved there from the original homestead.  Growing up in McCreary gave him two things that endured for his entire life – one was strong work ethic and the second one was an appreciation for horses.  They served him well throughout his life and especially in his semi-retirement years.

When he finished high school in 1960, there was a shortage of teachers in Manitoba and the government offered a free teacher training course of one year.  So he went off to Brandon College, and he lived with his brother Jake and his wife Elizabeth.  Being a country kid to the core, he had no appreciation for buses and bus routes, so he walked cleared across town, about thirty-five blocks.  After a month in the course, he was shipped off to his first student teaching assignment with a colleague, Earl Hughes, and took up shop at a school in Norgate.  His first teaching job was a one room school at Winnipegosis.  They hired him sight unseen, perhaps because of family connections.  His Dad had preached in the Mennonite church a quarter of a mile from the school, many times.  He had about fifteen students in seven or eight grades, and his salary was $3000 a year.  He was very fortunate during his two year stay there to have a kind and considerate inspector, Mr. Partridge.  The first time he showed up, he saw how behind he was in marking so he grabbed a fist full of workbooks, went off in a corner and helped him get caught up on marking.  That simple act of kindness rescued his early career.  About forty years later, he got to return the favour when he supervised his granddaughter as a student teacher in Rivers, Manitoba.

In 1962 he bought his first car, a 1961 Volkswagen.  He could travel home, a distance of 80 miles, for about 80 cents.  Gasoline cost about 35 cents/gallon at that time.

In 1963 he headed back to Brandon College to get his B.A.  Somewhere about the same time he discovered a pretty, petite, brown-eyed, dark-haired girl, Margaret Isaak.  They connected at Gospel Light Bible Camp, and their courtship lasted until his graduation in 1967.  They were married on July 15, 1967, Centennial year.  At the same time they moved to Rivers where he began his 23-year term teaching at Rivers Collegiate.  They rented their first house for $55/month and two years later they bought their first house for $5000.  Jonathan was born on June 21, 1969 – the first of four children. Then came Kimberley in 1972, Luella in 1974, and last of all Michael in 1979.  In 1973, the Lord blessed their family with a 50-acre plot of lakefront property.  Although they ended up subdividing, they still lived on the acreage with 14 acres right up until June of 2025.  They ended up having to sell and move into an apartment in Newdale which was easier for them.  Ernie only got to be there a month and a half before he was admitted to hospital.

In 1993 he finished his teaching career and decided to teach horses instead.  The Lord gave him a relatively smooth transition from teaching to horse training, and the next years were the most relaxing, rejuvenating and satisfying years of his life.  He trained horses for himself and many other people.  He shared his love of horses with his wife Margaret, and his children, and later grandchildren.  He was known as “Grandpa Horses” as named by his grand daughter Sadie.

In Ernie’s words, “Although we have not achieved great wealth or fame, I consider myself one of the richest (or blessed) people on God’s green earth.  He is good indeed and His faithfulness endures to all (our) generation.”   Ernie’s faith was steadfast and sure, and his love for Jesus and his love for his family expressed so freely.  He loved his Lord and Saviour and longed to go home to heaven.

Ernie slipped quietly away to heaven on September 2nd, 2025 at the Souris Health Centre.  He was able to remain at home until about a month before.  The family would like to thank Dr. Cram, the nurses, and staff at the Souris Hospital for their wonderful care and compassion while Ernie was there.

Ernie is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Jonathan (Fiona) and Michael (Maria) Janzen, daughter Kimberley Bryce (Alan), daughter Luella Mikkelsen (Josiah), grand children Nicholas, Joshua, Janoah, Milah, Aurora, Sadie, Silas, Eliza and great grandchildren Eli, Alasdair, Aisla and Greyson.  His sisters Margaret, Hilda and Linda, brothers Rudy and Bernard.

Ernie is predeceased by his father and mother Heinrich and Katharina, sister Katy Friesen, brothers Henry, Jake, and John, sister Anne Goertzen, sister Helena Zachary, sister Ruth, and grandson Caleb Bryce.