Classen, Mary Bartel (1892-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Aug 29 p. 10

Birth date: 1892 Oct 2

text of obituary:

Long-Time Review Correspondent Dies

Word has been received that Mrs. Jacob R. Classen of Meade, Kan. died at the Meade Hospital on Aug. 22 as a result of a heart attack. She was 81.

Mrs. Classen, the former Mary Bartel, had served as the Review correspondent at Meade for many years. She married Jacob R. Classen in 1953, and he died in 1956.

She was a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, where the funeral was conducted on Aug. 25.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 26 Sep 1974 p. 11

text of obituary:

MRS. MARY CLASSEN

Mrs. Mary Classen was born to John and Maria Barkman Bartel at Jansen, Neb. on Oct. 2, 1892. In 1907 the family moved to a farm south of Meade, Kan.

She accepted Christ as Savior and was baptized on June 4, 1911 by Elder Abram L. Friesen, and joined the Kleingemeinde Church. On April 16, 1944 she became a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church.

On Dec. 20, 1953 she married Jacob R. Classen. Mr. Classen died on Aug. 9, 1956. Mrs. Classen moved to Meade a few months later.

She enjoyed helping in the Ladies Sewing Society. She also made herself and her car available to transport women to various places. Her happy outlook and her desire for God's best were evident in the last years of her life. She was also a correspondent for the Mennonite Weekly Review.

She had not been the best of health for some days, having contacted a touch of pneumonia. She was taken to the Meade Hospital on Wednesday evening, Aug. 21, and died about 2:15 the next morning, Aug. 22, as the result of a heart attack.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, John at the age of 12, and Jacob J.; one sister, Agatha, Mrs. John J. A. Harder; and a step-daughter, Marie, Mrs. Dave C. Reimer.

She is survived by four step-sons and their wives, Dick and Katherine Classen of Meade, Martin and Katherine Classen of Dallas, ore., Willie and Elizabeth Classen of Walnut Hill, Fla., and George and Bertha Classen of Sturgis, Mich.; two brothers, John B. Bartel and wife and Peter B. Bartel, all of Meade; three sisters, Katie of Lone Tree Lodge, Agnes, Mrs. Abe L. Classen, and Anna, all of Meade; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Jacob J. Bartel; 17 step-grandchildren and 15 step-great-grandchildren. — The Family.