Byron Royce Jantzen

Byron Royce Jantzen, peacefully departed this life on Nov. 16, 2011, in his home near Walker, Mo., reaching the age of 63 years. He was born on Feb. 26, 1948, to Clarence and Ruth Koehn Jantzen in Wichita, Kan.

He answered the Savior's call at the age of 13 and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on April 12, 1961, by Minister Tobe J. Koehn. This faith was precious to him throughout his life.

Mr. Jantzen grew up on a farm near Burns, Kan. As a young man he worked at trailer factories in Newton, Kan. In 1969, he went to California to drive a truck for an uncle. On Nov. 30, 1969, he married Edith Leatherman in Livingston, Calif. This union was blessed with three daughters and one son. The first three months of their marriage were spent in California before moving to Phoenix, Ariz., where he did lawn care work. After living in Phoenix a year and a half, they moved back to Livingston, Calif. In July of 1978, they moved to the Walker, Mo., community. As a boy of 14, he became a lover of bees which were a means of livelihood during much of his adult years.

Byron did not know a stranger and remained interested in people and life. He could strike up a conversation easily with a total stranger. Earthly riches were never a top priority with him. Mr. Jantzen was a man of prayer. We have precious memories of him praying for us as children mentioning each of our names individually in prayer. As a young man, he was diagnosed with diabetes. During his life he patiently endured the complications caused by this disease.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Edith; three daughters, Jannalee Williams and her husband, Jeff, Sharilyn Garrett and her husband, Marvin, and Lilette Jantzen; one son, Kendall Jantzen and his wife, Rose; seven grandchildren; two brothers Delano Jantzen and his wife, Wendy, and Wendell Jantzen and his wife, Berlinda; two sisters, Rita Hochstetler and her husband, John, and Georgia Hochstetler and her husband, Jake; a special friend and caretaker, Bobbie McIntire; and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Living Faith Mennonite Church in Walker, Mo., with L. John Becker, Ron Koehn, and Robert Smith officiating. Interment will follow at the Living Faith Mennonite Cemetery in Walker.

Friends may call now and until 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, and the family will receive friends at the Living Faith Mennonite Church, Walker, on Friday, between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Contributions may be made to the Living Faith Mennonite Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com