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In Loving Memory of 

Lena Janzen

(nee Brandt)

age 92

 

Lovingly remembered by her children Rudy (Carrie), Dave (Nancy), and Barb (Ken), son-in-law Ben 

 as well as their families. 

Lena is predeceased by her husband Peter, and daughter Margaret.

 

Died

August 22, 2025

Bayside PCH 

Killarney, Manitoba

 

Memorial Service

Friday, August 29, 2025

Killarney Mennonite Church

Killarney, Manitoba

 11:00 a.m.

 

Private Interment ~ Killarney Cemetery

 

Donations in memory of Lena may be made to 

Turtle Mountain Bible Camp: 

Box 1198, Boissevain MB R0K 0E0.

 

 

Lena Janzen left to be with her Lord and Savior, peacefully, in the presence of her daughter-in-
law Carrie, on Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Bayside Personal Care home, in Killarney, at the
age of 92. She was born to Henry Brandt and Katherina (Loewen) Brandt on October 2, 1932, at
home, near Morris, Manitoba, where she grew up!
Lena is survived by her son-in-law, Ben Dueck, her sons, Rudy and wife Carrie, David and wife,
Nancy and daughter Barb, and her husband, Ken Reimer and many grandchildren and great
grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Marie Scott, Tena Reimer, Martha Dueck, and
brothers Bernie Brandt and Henry Brandt. Lena was predeceased by her husband Peter, in April
2025, daughter Margaret, her sisters Elma and Nettie.
Lena was baptized and became a member of the Rosenort Evangelical Mennonite Church. Most
recently, she and Peter were members of the Killarney Methodist Church.
As the oldest of eight children, Lena demonstrated her motherly instincts at an early age. She
helped raise her siblings; she was fond of all of them, but had a special bond with her brother,
Henry, when he was a young child.
As a young women Lena had several jobs, including working as a maid in various homes and
working in the kitchen at the Morris Hospital. At age 26 she decided to take Grade 11 at the
MCI after which she entered nurses training at the Grace Hospital. Upon graduating with an
R.N. diploma she worked in various hospitals. In 1972 she completed a course in Operating
Room Techniques and Management in Montreal, after which she worked as an OR nurse in
Winkler. She graduated from Steinbach Bible School in 1966.
Lena interrupted her nursing career and joined her sister, Nettie, to go to Germany to work as
cook in a children’s home. This proved to be a difficult experience and they came home before
the intended year was completed.
A major challenge for Lena was a bout of cancer in her late 30’s. She survived and overcame this
by the grace of God, and through excellent medical care!
Lena had many interests! In her earlier years she took a 3-month sewing course and was an
excellent seamstress. She was musically talented and taught herself to play the violin and mouth
organ and took organ lessons. She could play and transpose well by ear and had a very strong
singing voice!
Lena had a full and interesting life but her family knew that she longed to have a companion and
a family. Through mutual friends, Henry and Anna Dyck, Levi and Tena knew of a widower who
seemed to be lonely. They arranged for Peter and Lena to connect – and after a brief courtship

they were married on June 14, 1987. She left her job at Back to the Bible Broadcast, in
Winnipeg, and moved to Killarney to become a wife, mother, grandmother and later great-
grandmother. She took all of these roles seriously. Activities like having her grandchildren come
for lunch from school, providing meals for Margaret’s family during her illness and otherwise
providing support to the family were really important to her. Her aim was to be the best mother,
grandmother and great grandmother she could be! The family deeply appreciates the
companionship she provided, and the care she took of their dad!
In Killarney Lena became a very enthusiastic bowler and went to Toronto one winter to compete
in Senior’s games. She was an avid fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and loved to watch curling – she
had a passion for both sports. She had a deep interest in the British Royal family and assembled
many scrap books of pictures of them and articles about them.
Lena and Peter shared a deep passion for music. They played in many seniors musical groups
and loved to attend retreats where they played music and made many friends. Lena was a
gregarious person; she really enjoyed cooking and they entertained friends and family often.
The family wishes to express deep appreciation for neighbors, family and friends who came to
visit Lena in the Bayside Care Home. They are also very thankful for the attentive care she
received from the staff at the Care Home! Thank-you also to Linda and Gladwin Friesen (a
cousin’s son who lives in Bayside) for their presence in Lena’s life!