Klassen, Mary Redekopp (1901-1980)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 Dec 19 p. 27

Birth date: 1901 Aug 19

text of obituary:

MARY KLASSEN

Mary Klassen of Coaldale, Alta. and Winnipeg passed away on October 18. She was born on August 19,1901 to Wilhelm and Katherina (Klassen) Redekopp in Kronstal, Old Colony, Russia. Several years later the family moved to Darillowka when fire destroyed their home; and a few years later again, to Suworowska in the Caucasus, where her mother died in 1915. She accepted Christ as her personal Saviour in her youth. At age 15 she was baptized by Rev. Peter Janzen and joined the Mennonite Brethren church. In 1919 the family moved to the Kuban, and in 1924 it emigrated to Canada, settling in Herbert, Sask. In Kelstern, Sask. she met Johann Klassen and married him in December 1932. They homesteaded at Fairholme, Sask. and participated in the Fairholme church. They soon moved to Coaldale to farm, and finally into the town of Coaldale. She worked as a cook in a lumber camp and later in the Bible school and high school, and also worked as a housekeeper in Lethbridge, Alta. Her husband died in October 1969. She moved to Winnipeg in 1979. She was predeceased by her only child, Herta Marutkyn, in 1979, and her stepmother, Selma Redekopp, in 1975. She is survived by son-in-law John Marutkyn, four grandchildren, brother Henry W. Redekopp, sister Tina Penner and two sisters-in-law. Her funeral was held October 20 in the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, Winnipeg, with pastor Roland Marsch, and David Dyck of Donwood Manor, preaching.