Klassen, David J. (1882-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jan 14 p. 6

Birth date: 1882 Jan 19

text of obituary:

— Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro on Saturday for D. J. Klassen. 71, long time resident of the Hillsboro community. He died suddenly Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 12.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Feb 18 p. 9

text of obituary:

DAVID J. KLASSEN

David J. Klassen, son of Johann and Sarah (Unruh) Klassen, was born January 19, 1882, in Harvey county, Kansas. He spent the days of his childhood and youth in the Goessel community. There he received his grade school education and later graduated from Goessel Private Academy under Mrs. Balzer. After finishing the academy he attended Bethel College for two terms, taking mostly a business course.

He was baptized upon the confession of his faith in the Alexanderwohl church by Rev. Balzer on May 22, 1904.

On May 16, 1907, he married Katherina Friesen, who was his faithful companion till his passing, and with whom he was privileged to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary in 1932.

For one year after their marriage they remained in the Goessel community, then moved to Hillsboro where Bro. Klassen took up an automobile agency in which business he remained for many years, later exchanging for a used goods store. From this business he retired in 1953.

As Mr. and Mrs. Klassen had no children of their own, they adopted a daughter, Evelyn, in 1913, and in 1916 a son, Marvin.

Mr. Klassen was always intensely interested in the holy Scriptures, which he studied very diligently. It is interesting to look through the large number of reference books and commentaries he used and to follow the marginal notations he made while reading them.

That he was also keenly interested in all the affairs about him can be seen from the fact that he visited several world fairs, including San Francisco and Chicago. He also enjoyed carpentry and the house Mr. and Mrs. Klassen have lived in for so many years was largely built by himself.

His health was always good until the last few years when hardening of the arteries apparently set in. In September, 1952, he suffered a light stroke but made a complete recovery. After his retirement from business, he often complained of increasing illness and then suddenly and silently he passed on of heart failure at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 1954.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Katherina, his daughter and son-in-law, Evelyn and Dudley Winkelpleck and their three children, living in Sepulveda, Calif., his son and daughter-in-law, Marvin and Vivian Klassen and their three children of Wichita; his brothers, P. J. Klassen of Hillsboro, Henry of Newton, Jacob and Bernhard of Goessel.

Of his brothers and sisters, Abraham and Lena, (Mrs. H. J. Voth) have preceded him in death. His half brothers and sisters, Johann, Aaron and Sarah, passed on before him in Russia, and Mazie, Gerhard, Katherina and Frank, in Kansas.

Leaving to mourn him are also a lage [sic] number of other relatives and friends, several of whom he assisted in a financial way to leave the restless revolution-ridden shores of Europe to find a new and peaceful home in America.

The Mennonite obituary: 1954 Feb 23 p. 128