Eva Merle Jantz

Eva Merle Jantz, our dear mother and beloved “Gram” left for her heavenly home on January 7, 2011, reaching the age of 84. Her last few days were spent at the Boundary County Community Hospital where she was lovingly cared for by the staff and her family. She left a witness of peace and serenity. The family will be receiving visitors at the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home on Friday, January 14, 2011, from 7:00-8:30pm. Funeral Services will be conducted at the Mt. View Mennonite Church on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 10:30 am. Mother was born Eva Sarah Hiebert to David and Stella Dick Hiebert on July 9, 1926, near Langdon, ND. When she was nearly 8 her mother passed away unexpectedly. The children were separated, and from that time on she spent her childhood years in various homes in the community, often lonely for her family. When Mother was 12 years old she was welcomed into the Henry and Ida Amoth home. Mother gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into the church of God in Christ Mennonite in Langdon, North Dakota, at the age of 15 by Minister Isaac Toews. After her father passed away, she, along with her two younger sisters, was adopted by Grandpa Amoths. Even though Mother was 19, it thrilled her to have the security of a place to call home. She changed her middle name to “Merle” in recognition of her new mother’s maiden name of Mastre. Mother, with her family, moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho when she was 20. She was trained as a practical nurse. Because they did not have such a position at the Bonners Ferry Hospital, she became the first official nurses aid in Boundary County. In 1947 Daddy, Glenn R Jantz, came to Bonners Ferry from Hesston, KS, to renew his acquaintance with mother. He had met her when she was 14 years old while in North Dakota for potato harvest. And so, on February 22, 1948, Mother and Daddy were married by Minister Ernest Dirks in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Nettie and Eddie Justus. Their home was blessed with 10 children: 6 daughters followed by 4 sons. Except for one year in which they lived in Newton, Kansas, to be near Daddy’s ailing father, they made their home in the Bonners Ferry area. Mother enjoyed caring for her family, gardening and homemaking. They were happly married for 20 years when Daddy was taken from Mother’s side in a tragic construction accident. Our baby brother Duane joined him in Glory 8 months later. Mother was artistic and poetic, expressing her talent in embroidery, quilting, song writing and singing, but her best times were spent with her family and friends of all ages. She loved being with and helping people. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were a special delight to her and she was affectionately known to them as “Gram”. Others in the congregation and community also calling her Gram made her feel loved. Mother’s Bible was precious to her and well marked. Even though she wanted to go to Sunday School and Church her last Sunday here, she graciously submitted to listening at home. We children remember her many prayers- around the table and at devotions. Her faith in God carried her through the dark times of her life. She was often comforted with songs in the night, and most recently by hearing her named called. She thought it was Jesus, which is a comfort to us also. Those left with fond memories are six daughters: Anita and Milferd Holdeman, Wrens Georgia; Glenda and Rodney Harms, Uniontown, Alabama; Twyla and Galen Ensz, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Melva and Rodney Giesbrecht, Davisboro, Georgia; Gloria and Dan Holdeman, and Geneva and Delton Koehn all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; three sons: Lynn and Leah Jantz, Tim and Tina Jantz all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Merrill and Starlyn Jantz of Bonners Ferry, Idaho presently serving in the Dominican Republic; 47 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Marie Beauchamp, Spokane, Washington; Elsie and Norman Toews, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Alice Warkentin, Greenland, Manitoba; sisters-in-law Adella Jantz, Hesston, KS; Bernice Nightengale, Ingalls, KS; Emily and Harry Nachtigal, Hutchinson, KS; brother-in-laws: Marion and Evelyn Jantz, Richards, Missouri; Jason Jantz, McPherson, KS; Donald and Eve Jantz Butler, Missouri, young friend Rita Minden and the Edd Williams family all of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, her Amoth and Mastre cousins and a host of nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. Mother was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, son Duane, daughter-in-law Vickie grandson Layton, five brothers and nine sisters, 16 brothers-in-law and 7 sisters-in-law. Memorials may be made to Mt. View Christian School. Family and friends are invited to sign Eva’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.