Claassen, Olga Schultz (1918-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Aug 2 p. 11

Birth date: 1918 Jun 8

text of obituary:

Longtime India missionary dies at 92

By Mennonite Mission Network staff

BERNE, Ind. — Olga Claassen's life of service to god took her to India and Indiana, and a few other places besides.

Claassen, who died July 5 at the age of 92, offered a steady and inspiring influence on colleagues and those outside of church circles, according to Joseph and Mary Lou Duerksen, who served with Claassen and her husband, Curt, in India.

"She was dedicated, in the broadest sense of the word," Joseph Duerksen said. "She was dedicated to her family, she was dedicated to the church, she was dedicated to her calling [and] to the women and children with whom she worked."

For 28 years the Claassens were evangelists in India, teaching in the Janjgir Bible School, planting churches, encouraging isolated Christians in villages and mentoring Indian evangelists. Claassen also taught the Bible to women and children.