Claassen, Margaret Rempel (1890-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 May 9 p. 8

Birth date: 1890 Jul 25

text of obituary:

MARGARET CLAASSEN

Margaret Claassen, daughter of Abraham and Aganetha Fast Rempel, was born on July 25, 1890, near Jansen, Neb., and passed from this life on March 22, 1963, at the age of 72 years seven months and four days.

At an early age she realized her lost condition and accepted Christ as her personal Savior. Upon her confession of faith she was baptized and accepted into the fellowship of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church at Jansen in 1909. At the time of her death she was a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church at Dallas, Oregon.

On August 31, 1916, she was joined in holy matrimony to Peter T. Claassen at which time she accepted the responsibility of mothering thee young daughters. Also to this union were born two sons and two daughters. The family resided in the vicinity of Fairbury, Neb. until the spring of 1940 when they moved to Dallas, Oregon. On March 21, 1950, the Lord saw fit to take our father to his heavenly Home.

Mother enjoyed life and served her family faithfully. She particularly loved to attend all the services in the church and attended regularly as long as she was able. One of her favorite portions of Scripture was John 10.

In 1954 she lost the sight of one eye due to glaucoma. In December 1958 she suddenly became completely blind, losing the sight in the other eye. Due to her helpless condition she entered the Dallas Nursing Home in January 1959. Her sight was partially restored, for which she was grateful. Although her activities were limited, she was able to get around quite well and enjoyed being with her children from time to time.

In December 1961 she became bedfast due to paralysis which eventually led to her death. The last six weeks she suffered much, but was always cheerul [sic] and remained mentally alert until her death.

She leaves to mourn two sons, Eldon and Arnold of Dallas; two daughters, Mrs. Leander Fadenrecht of Portland, Oregon and Lena Claassen in Salem, Oregon; three stepdaughters, Mrs. John A. Friesen, Mrs. Stanley Van Order, and Catherine Claassen, all of Dallas; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four sisters: Mrs. Frank S. Friesen of Portland, Mrs. Irvin Balzer and Rose Rempel of Salem, and Sarah Rempel of Dallas; six brothers, Jake and John Rempel of Mr. [sic Mt.] Lake, Minn., George and Henry Rempel of Jansen, Neb., Isaac Rempel of Aurora, Colo., and Peter Rempel of Salem, Oregon; two aged uncles, Henry Rempel of Fairbury, Neb., and Peter Rempel of Meade, Kan.; and one aunt, Mrs. G. J. Claassen of Meade. — The Bereaved Family.