Orval John Janz

Obituary

We rejoice to announce that Orval Janz completed his earthly pilgrimage of 81 years on Thursday, January 22, 2026, and entered the eternal glories of heaven to be with His Saviour Jesus Christ!

Orval is survived by his wife of 58 years, Georgetta, their children and their families:

• Marica (Mark) McWhinnie and their children: Brooke (Conner) Ehmann.
• Trenton (Lori) Janz and their children: Keldy (Mitchell) Regier; Nick (Morgan) Janz and their daughter Macie Janz; and Talia Janz.
• Kristel (Martin) Penner and their children: Morgan and Keaton Penner.
• Dorothea (Philip) Harms.

He is also survived by his sisters and brothers: Marion (Trevor) McGhie, Dorothy (Gus) Van Hee, Viola (Willard) Schmidt, Sandra (Gord) Klassen, sister-in-law Marilynne Magistad; and their families.

Orval is predeceased by his parents: Edward and Laura Janz; his sisters and brothers: Darlene Braun, Linton Janz, Darrel Janz, and Shirley Middleton; and brothers-in-law: Willie Braun, and Morley Magistad.

Orval trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour early in childhood and came to full assurance of salvation (1 John 1:9) while attending Prairie Bible Institute (PBI). After graduating from Prairie in 1966 he joined Canadian Sunday School Mission (CSSM) ministering at Bible camps, where he met Georgetta, and pastoring churches in northeastern Alberta. The two were married in 1967 and were life-long partners in all things. Together they served alongside each other with CSSM for the next 40+ years in numerous roles including: bible camp director, church pastor, Manitoba branch director, and national director. After leaving CSSM in 2005, Orval and Georgetta served in interim pastoral ministry at several churches and provided pulpit supply as the Lord gave opportunity and strength. When strength and health failed, Orval shifted his energy to a ministry of intercessory prayer: lifting up, before the Lord of all creation, his family, friends, acquaintances, missionaries, national and world leaders.

Valuing the soul above all earthly treasures, Orval invested his life, abilities, and resources to pursuits that endure beyond time: declaring the name of Jesus and His substitutionary atonement for repentant sinners. The Lord is no man’s debtor: He supplied for every material and physical need, both in health and sickness. The greater return on Orval’s investment was, and continues to be, seeing lives of family, friends, and others transformed by the saving work of Jesus.

We who are alive and remain, having put our trust in the saving work of Jesus, look forward to standing before the throne of God together with Orval in a great multitude which no one can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, to cry with a loud voice, “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ~ Revelation 7:10

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:20

Friends and acquaintances of the family are welcome to attend a memorial service for Orval Janz on Saturday, February 28, 2026. at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.