Klassen, Abraham C. (1867-1936)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Nov 11 p. 2

Birth date: 1867 May 27

text of obituary:

Abraham C. Klassen

Abraham C. Klassen, son of Peter and Katharina Kornelson Klassen, was born on May 27, 1867, in Elizabethal, South Russia, and passed away on Monday noon, Oct. 26, 1936, thus reaching the age of 69 years, 4 months, and 29 days.

He came to America in the large immigration of Mennonites in 1874, when he was a boy of seven years. After his father died his mother united in marriage with Rev. Peter Lohrentz. The days of his youth were spent in the parental home three and one half miles south and three and one-half miles west of Moundridge, where he also attended the public school.

After he left the parental home he made his home with various close relatives. For about seven years he stayed with his sister, Mrs. John Wiebe. Later he lived with his half-brother John Klassen in Galveston, Texas. It so happened that he was sin Galveston when the great storm and flood struck that area, destoying a alrge part of the city. A nubmer of mennonites perished in the storm, but his life was almost miraculously sved in that the hosue was destoyed by teh storm a few mintues after he and some friends had left it to seek shelter in anotehr bulding nearby. During the last eleven years he made his home with his half-sister, Mrs. Jacob A. Regier, from which palce he was called to hsi final reward.