Klassen, Nickolai (1909-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1970 Jan 23 p. 30

Birth date: 1909 Mar 25

text of obituary:

NICKOLAI (NICK) KLASSEN

Nick Klassen was born on March 25 1909, lin the vmage of Donskaja, in the province of Samara, Russia, the ninth son of a family graced by ten sons and three daughters.

He spent his happy childhood amidst his brothers and sisters and the playmates of the village school where he received his elementary education, later supplemented by a few years of study at a secondary school in the neighboring village of Lugovsk.

In the fall of 1925 a new chapter began in his life with the family's emigration to Canada. Here the challenge of acquiring a new language, the continuation of an interrupted education,and the search for a life's vocation had to be met. In the course of these pursuits he was led into the field of construction and architectural draughting, a vocation in which he was happily engaged till the close of his earthly life.

On September 6, 1936, another eventful chapter began in his life when he was joined in holy matrimony to Irmgard (Irma) Delesky in Winnipeg, where the young couples et up their home and where Nick was engaged in va~ious occupations until the year 1942. That year I1:he prospect of !better job opportunities and mHder climate on the West Coast drew them :to 'Brit'ish Columbia. After several relo'cations within the province, they were :I'ed to take up res,idence in .6Ibbotsford. Here N'ick was employed for many years by the Dueck Lumber Company. His acti'vities ,in this 'community brought him ·into contact with many people and led to the acquisition of many personal friendships. He also "eaves behind many a vis'ible landmark in the form olf a va,riety of buHdings, both public and private, which attest to his construct,ion and draughting skins.

But if he could speak now, he would pO'inl1: to the one supreme highlight o·f his life which took place in 1938 when the Lord Jesus gave him the g'ift of aH gift the newness of life, which formed the secret 'centre of his quiet, unassuming, yet busy, life, that o,ften spoke 'louder than any sermon. His baptism by immersion that same year marked his pubHc confess'ion to the Lordship of Christ ,in his life.

His home church in Abbotsford was the Central Heights Church, where he worshipped together with his beloved wife and found much spiritua,1 sustenance. Quite suddenly his Lord called him to his rest on December 25.

His departure ·from this earthly life 'is deeply mourned ,by his dear wife, Irma; two sons, Nickolai (Nkky) John, and Roy Harold; Nicky's wife, Averil and two grandchildren, Michael and Deborah; the mother-in-law, Mrs. Katherine Delesky; two brothers, Jacob of Winnipeg and John of Montreal; and three sisters, Mrs. Justina p.eters of Surrey, Mrs. Agatha Horch of Winnipeg and Mrs. Elfrieda Dyck of Akron, Pennsylvania.