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Barbara A. Janzen, 77, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother of Grand Forks, ND passed away on Monday, October 28, 2024, at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks.

Barbara (Bannach) Janzen, known affectionately as Barb, Babe, Barbie, and later Grandma Barb, was born on April 8, 1947, in Wales, ND, the daughter of George and Agnes (Fetsch) Bannach.

Barb married the love of her life, DeWayne Janzen, on November 18, 1967, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Calio, ND. Together, Barbara and DeWayne resided in Grand Forks, where they built a life, raised their two children, and contributed to their community.

Barb dedicated her early years to being a loving homemaker, nurturing her family with unwavering devotion. Once her children started school, Barb expanded her skills by joining Fritz Building, where she worked in new construction cleaning. Her strong work ethic and attention to detail were evident in everything she did, and she took pride in helping to create clean, welcoming spaces.

Barb will be remembered for her selflessness and her deep love of spending time with family and friends. She had a special fondness for days at the lake, where she enjoyed nothing more than drinking beers and sharing conversations with friends. A cherished conversationalist, Barb loved to chat, whether in person or over the phone, sharing stories and laughter with those around her. Remarkably, she never complained, always bringing a positive spirit and a smile to those around her.

Barb was immensely proud of her grandchildren, Jacey and Tyler, and took every opportunity to be present at their events as they grew up. She was their biggest cheerleader, celebrating each achievement and milestones with love and enthusiasm. Known for her generosity, Barb could always be counted on to slip them a little extra money whenever she could, a small act of love that became a cherished family tradition.

Later in life, Barb developed a love for shows like Law and Order ("dun da dun"), NCIS, Dateline, and Wheel of Fortune, which filled her days with entertainment and familiarity.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Cindy (Janzen) Savage, and her son-in-law, Chuck Savage, along with her treasured grandchildren, Jacey (Jon Hendricks) Savage and Tyler Savage, whom she adored deeply; sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Bannach, Janelle Bannach and Alice Foldger and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, DeWayne Janzen, and her son, Kenneth Janzen; James Bannach, Elmer Bannach, Edwin Bannach, Jerome Bannach and Victor Bannach; Sisters, Marlene Garritson and Anna Marie Bannach; brother-in-law, Jack Garritson and Robert Monson.

Barb's presence and impact will be cherished forever by her family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:00am, at the Norman Funeral Home in Grand Forks, ND, followed by lunch and celebration of life at the Grand Forks Country Club. Family and friends are invited to gather to celebrate Barb's life and honor her memory.

Visitation will be one hour prior the service in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Journey Home Animal Rescue and Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue.