Irene V. Janzen

Sketch for Irene Viola (Voth) Janzen

​Irene V. Janzen, 89, passed away on June 23 at Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, following heart failure.

Irene was born on September 24, 1928 in rural Goessel, Kansas to Herman and Elizabeth (Enz) Voth. She grew up on the Voth farm southwest of Goessel.

She married Milferd Janzen on May 23, 1948 at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in rural Goessel. After their marriage they moved to a 40-acre farm east of Goessel to start their family. In 1958 they built a new home in Newton where they lived and raised their family. Milferd passed away on April 3, 2003 after 54 years of marriage. In 2005 she moved to Kidron Bethel Village.

Irene loved her family, gardening, baking, sewing, needlework, embroidery, working jigsaw puzzles and keeping a neat and tidy home. 

She took great pride in her volunteer work at Botanica Gardens of Wichita. She volunteered there for 15 years planting flower bulbs and weeding flower beds. She was an expert and dedicated “Weeder” who never crossed paths with a weed she did not pull at her home or at Botanica. Irene was an active member of the Faith Mennonite Church of Newton for over sixty years. She was dedicated and active on the Music Committee. She sang in the choir, small vocal groups and as a soloist.  As a Mission Circle member, Irene served as the secretary/treasurer and volunteered at many congregational activities. 

Lawn mowing was a valued role in maintaining her home and also turned into a business for more than twenty years until she retired at age 65. 

She loved travel.  The family took extensive family vacations, and she and Milferd took numerous bus trips across Canada and the USA when they were empty nesters.

She is survived by her children: Ladene and Don Herrick, Bonnie and Ron Hanser, Ken and Melodie Janzen; brother: Marvin Voth; sister: Martha Voth; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Milferd Janzen; parents: Herman and Elizabeth Voth; four sisters; two brothers and a grandson: Jeffrey Herrick.

A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27^th at 1:00 p.m. in Menno Hall at the Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton, Kansas.  A private committal service is scheduled prior to the service.

A memorial has been established with Botanica Gardens, 701 Amidon St., Wichita, Kansas 67203. Petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com.