In Memory of Ron Janzen 

June 24, 1946  -  December 25, 2024 

Ron had a history with Camp Valaqua that goes back literally to its beginning. He was a camper in those first summers and told stories of sleeping in tents on platforms and hauling water up from the creek as part of his groups daily camp gratis. He went on to be a program helper, picking up groceries from Water Valley and helping in whatever way was needed.

Ron started spending his entire summer at camp more years ago than anyone can rightly remember.  Jon Olfert remembers once he was asked what he did at camp all summer and his reply was “I fix things.”  Everyone connected with Camp Valaqua is so grateful for all the fixing Ron did over those years. The benches that were painted, the trails weed whacked, and all the general puttering that helped to keep our camp community working.  

And so, as many can attest, Ron was

An Integral Part of the Camp Valaqua Community

From a June 2021 article

"Jeff Schellenberg, Camp Manager, reflects with gratitude, “Ron has been a beloved and integral part of the camp community every summer for many years. He’s loved and appreciated for the many, many helpful tasks he performs to help keep the place running, but even more for his gentle, good humour and the way he relates to people here. His love of this place shines through in all he does and we have been, and continue to be, blessed to have him here.”"

Read the full article HERE      Read Ron's obituary HERE

From Jon Olfert, as shared at Ron's memorial service.

Ron’s fundraising efforts for camp were… are… legendary. We crowned him the King of the Hike-a-thon, our annual fundraiser and I suspect there isn’t anyone in this room that escaped him when he was fundraising. I remember once looking through his contributors and seeing my own mom and dad. They hadn’t sponsored me for hike-a-thon. 

He was our top fundraiser every year for a decade. It got to the point that we made a “Top Fundraiser Not Named Ron Janzen” award to encourage our other fundraisers. 

Our Top Fundraising Award has been the Ron Janzen award for the years since he retired from this project, and now, I suppose, we’ll have to make it a memorial award.

Make a Donation in Ron's Memory