Klassen, Katharina Woelk (1896-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jun 22 p. 7

Birth date: 1896 Dec 28

Text of obituary:

Newton and Vicinity

Mrs. Jacob G. Klassen, 75, of Goessel died June 15 at the Bethesda Hospital there. Funeral services were held Monday forenoon at the Goessel Mennonite Church, with Rev. Henry Goossen in charge. Mrs. Klassen, the former Katharine Woelk, lived in the Goessel community most of her life. Survivors include her husband, of the home; a son, Walter, of Hopedale, Ill.; two daughters, Mrs. Wm. Deines of Wichita and Mrs. Harold Thieszen of Mt. Lake, Minn.; four brothers, Jacob and Henry Woelk of Newton, John Woelk of Goessel, and Frank Woelk of Hillsboro; one sister, Mrs. J. W. Berg of Buhler; and 10 grandchildre.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jul 6 p. 11

Text of obituary:

MRS. KATHARINA KLASSEN

Katharina (Woelk) Klassen was born on Dec. 28, 1896, near Lehigh, Kan. to Abram and Maria (Buller) Woelk. Her family moved to the Goessel community when she was a little child and she lived in this community for the rest of her life with the exception of seven years when they resided in Hesston.

She was baptized on May 23, 1915, by Rev. Heinrich Banman and received into the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. On Christmas morning, 1937, she was received into the Goessel Mennonite Church where she continued in fellowship until her death.

She was married to Jacob G. Klassen on May 15, 1919, by P. H. Unruh at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. Four children were born to this union: Ella, Walter, Roline (who died in infacy), and Esther.

The family was blessed with happy occasions. Family vacation trips were a highlight of life. The silver wedding anniversary in 1944 and the golden anniversary in 1969 were memorable occasions for the whole family. In her later years she wrote poetry for her own enjoyment and as an expression of her observations and beliefs. She enjoyed sewing for relief, especially for children.

The suffering of pain in her body began in September and became severe in the last weeks of her life. She died of cancer on June 15, 1972, at the age of 75 years. Her kindness, gentle manner and concerned spirit will be missed by the family and friends who survive.

She is survived by her husband, Jacob; daughter Ella and her husband William Deines of Wichita, Kan., son Walter and wife Dorothy of Hopedale, Ill., and daughter Esther and husband Harold D. Thieszen of Mountain Lake, Minn.; ten grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Mary Berg of Buhler; four brothers, Henry and wife Anna, Jake and wife Bertha, John and wife Ruth, and Frank and wife Margaret; and one sister-in-law, Helen, Mrs. Pete Woelk. — The Family.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1972 Oct 10 p. 591

Text of obituary:

Katharina Klassen (Mrs. Jacob G.), Goessel (Kans.) Church, was born Dec. 28, 1896, and died June 15.