Laura Janzen

Laura Janzen was born to Erdman and Anna (nee Dueck) Rempel on February 9, 1932 on their family farm home near Morden, Manitoba. Laura was the fifth daughter, the second youngest in a family of nine children. Her church life began by attending Sunday School and worship at Herold Mennonite Church. This along with her parents’ strong faith, and her father being a minister, provided the foundation for her lifelong commitment to the Christian faith.

She grew up in a large family of loving parents and siblings. Her kindergarten to grade eight schooling took place at Cheval School, one and one-half miles from her home. She attended grade nine at Morden Collegiate and demonstrated her academic excellence in achieving a General Proficiency Scholarship. At the motivation of this award, she applied for admission to Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Manitoba and was accepted for enrolment. Once again, she excelled in grade ten with a straight A record. Here, numerous extra curricular activities and opportunities presented themselves … boarding school, special choir, school trips and relational opportunities. At the encouragement of her high school principal to attend university, the seed was planted for post-secondary education.

After one year of permit teaching in the Clearwater, Manitoba area, Laura applied for Nurses training at Grace Hospital School of Nursing. She loved the studies. And, here again, she excelled academically receiving a gold pin award for the highest mark and achieving the designation of Registered Nurse. She immediately began her long career in nursing at Concordia Hospital, gaining much experience working on the surgery, medicine and obstetrics wards.

However, Laura’s studies were not complete. Two roommates, having attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska encouraged her to attend there. She applied and was accepted into the 3 year program. Receiving one year of credit for her RN designation, she studied for two years. She completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree. This experience gave her the benefit of strengthening her faith and together with community service and social science studies, rounded out her effectiveness as a nurse. With these additional credentials she was able to complete a Public Health Nurse course at University of Manitoba and received a PHN1 designation. She served as a nurse in various southern Manitoba hospitals and then began taking positions as a Public Health Nurse.

It was during her nursing career in southern Manitoba that she met Neil Klassen. They were married in 1967 and took up residence in the Brandon area. In 1974 they adopted (Corey Wayne) Matthew Klassen. He was much loved and immediately became part of the family. They lived on a hobby farm in the area between Brandon and Souris. After twenty years of marriage, they were divorced in 1987. While living in the Brandon area, Laura spent about 20 years in public health nursing.

During the late 1980s Laura met John Janzen. After a short courtship they were married in 1988. In their retirement, they enjoyed travelling. In 1994 they moved to Westbank near Kelowna and then in 1999 to Kelowna. In 2009 Laura and John moved back to Manitoba, living briefly in Winnipeg and then in Steinbach at Bridgepark Manor. Laura lived at Bridgepark Manor until 2018.

In January 2018 Laura had a serious stroke and was hospitalized. Her diagnosis revealed that she had aphasia, limiting her capacity to communicate. She was paneled for nursing home and placed in Supportive Care in Niverville until space became available in Rest Haven Nursing Home. She lived there until her death. Laura passed away on February 17, 2023, at Rest Haven.

She was predeceased by her husband John, her parents, four sisters and four brothers, and their spouses.

She leaves to mourn her passing, Mathew and Cheryl Klassen: Corey and Ashley (Sophie, Arlie); Rachelle and Jr (Jeremiah, Trevelle); John’s daughters, Lorena and Norman Severson; Naomi and Marcel Simoens (Kayla, Kristy); brother, Henry and Alma Rempel; sister-in-law, Helen Rempel; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd, followed by interment and refreshments. For those who wish to view the service online, please click "Join Livestream" below.

Donations may be made in memory of Laura to your favourite charity.