Klassen, John Cornelius (1890-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1969 Apr 18 p. 29

Birth date: 1890 Mar 09

text of obituary:

JOHN CORNELIUS KLASSEN

JQhn CQrnelius Klassen was bQrn 'On March 9, 1890 tQ Cornelius and Katharina Klassen at Alexanderwohl, Russia. Wh'ile he was still quite young the family moved to Kamenetz, Neu-Samara, where they lived until they moved to Canada in 1926, In the year 1905 he accepted Christ as his persQnal Saviour, was baptized and received as member 'intQ the MennQnite Brethren Church. On May 27, 1919 he was marr,ied to EI'izabeth Martens, with whQm he shared joys and SQrrows 'Of Hfe until 1945 when she was taken from his side. GQd blessed them with three daughters and five sons. When the family came tQ Canada they settled first 'On a farm at CrQwfoQt, moving 11 years later to TQfield, Alberta, It was here that his wife died and he was left a widower with eight ohi,ldren. GQd gave him anQther life partner in Elisabeth Dyck, and for almQst 23 years they shared the jQys and sorrows 'Of life, In 1947 the family mQved tQ Ma,tsqui, B.C" taking up dairy farming. Ten years later the p'arents retired tQ ClearbrQQk, B.C, Mr, Klassen was hospitalized on February 2, and after an illness of five weeks GQd released him from his suffering and called him home, He reached the age of 79 years and one day. He loved the LQrd and was 'always active in the wQrk of Christ and his Church. DeeplycQncerned about the spiritual welfare 'Of his children, he was able tQ see all his SQns and daughters come tQ love and serve the Lord. His example in the home and church will long be IQvingly remembered. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elisabeth Klassen; Katherine (Mrs, A. Martens), ClearbrQQk; JQhn, Black Creek, B,e.; Abe, Fresno, Callif.; Cornelius, Matsqui, B.C.; Peter, FresnQ, Cal'if,; LQuise (Mrs. R. Wi'lIms), Winnipeg, Man.; Will'iam, New Westminster, B.C.; Ann (Mrs. R. Nickel), Clearbrook, B.C.; -their~amil'ies; a brother, Abram, in Russia; and tWQ sisters, Helen and Maria (Mrs, G. Thie,lmann), bQth 01 St. Catharines, ant. The funeral serv,ice 'On March 15 in the ClearbrQQk (B.C.) Church was CQnducted by Rev. Herman Lenzmann, assisted by Rev. J. Unger.