Dyck, Susanne Klassen (1902-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1969 May 02 p. 27

Birth date: 1902 Feb 05

text of obituary:

SUSANNE DYCK

(Mrs.) Susanne Dyck (nee Klassen) was born February 5, 1902, in Barvenkovno, Russia. In her youth she was a student of A.H. Unruh. She was converted at 16 years and the following year she was received into the Mennonite Brethren Church. She loved the Lord and with great enthusiasm she gathered children together from the streets to tell them of Jesus.

On September 25, 1922, she was married to Franz Dyck of Rosenort, a marriage that was blessed with four daughters. In 1930 all of their possessions were confiscated and the family was sent into exile. While many faced the prospect of the future in Siberia with much foreboding, she could still sing the German song, "Whom God would bless with special favour, he sends into the wide wide world," She took literally the promise of Psalm 91:7: "A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh the.," In spite of hunger, persecution and distress, she maintained a level head and courageous heart, and planned an escape that was crowned with success.

Later, in 1938, her husband was exiled again and was never heard from again. In 1943 a daughter, Anita, was lost through sudden death.

She showed a special aptitude for caring for the sick from early youth and in 1939 she received a government diploma in midwifery and nursing from the Russian government. Later she received further training and passed similar examinations in Germany.

In 1948 the family emigrated to Canada. Despite the difficulty of finding her way into new circumstances, she nevertheless retained a sympathetic heart and helping hands for neighbours and was a blessing to many through the years. Her help was not limited to physical needs - she was able to help people with their spiritual needs as well.

She passed into the Presence of the Lord on March 5, 1969, her life and death a radiant testimony to Christ. The funeral service was observed in the Culloden (Vancouver) Church with D. B. Wiens, H. G. Classen and H. J. Klassen ministering. She is survived by daughters Mrs. Elfriede Zeitner, Mrs. Katie Koehn and Miss Mimi Dyck; two sons-in-law; two sisters and nine grandchildren.