Klassen, Peter P. (1875-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Oct 18 p. 3

Birth date: 1875 Feb 17

text of obituary:

RETIRED FARMER OF INMAN COMMUNITY DIED AT BURRTON

Inman, Kansas. — Funeral services for Peter Klassen, 74, well known retired farmer, were held at the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church Sunday afternoon, Oct. 14. Mr. Klassen farmed in this community for a number of years, and two years ago moved to Burrton where he died on Oct. 11.

Surviving him are his wife Mary; two daughters, Mrs. Martha Peters of Inman and Mrs. Elizabeth Klein of Burrton; a son, P. J. of Louisburg, Kans.; 20 grandchildren; three sisters and three brothers.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Oct 25 p. 10

text of obituary:

PETER P. KLASSEN

Peter P. Klassen, son of Peter and Maria (Friesen) Klassen, was born on February 17, 1875, and departed this life on Thursday, October 11, 1961. He had reached the age of 76 years, seven months and 24 days.

He was born in McPherson county, Kansas, and lived here a good portion of his life; for a number of years also he lived in Harvey county, especially after he was married and was making a home of his own. As a child he had little opportunity for school work, and went to school for a short time, just long enough to learn to read the more common things and to speak the English language so that he could look after the affairs of life.

On November 11, 1906, he was united in marriage to Mary Ratzlaff, the present Mrs. Klassen. To this union were born four children, three daughters and one son. Three of the children are still living: Martha, Mrs. C. K. Peters; Elizabeth, Mrs. Leonard Klein; and Peter. Katherine lived to be seven years of age, when she was called away in death.

On June 8, 1924, he was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Rev. Abraham Ratzlaff performed the act of baptism upon him, and he was received into the membership of the Hoffnungsau church where he remained a member until his death.

When they were first married they lived for some years in Harvey county, Kansas, near the Alta Mill site. Later, in 1917, they moved into McPherson county, near Inman, where they lived for a number of years, until a little over two years ago when they moved to establish residence in the town of Burrton. This was his last home here on earth, and here he departed this life.

It seemed that he was in fairly good health until about seven years ago when he underwent a serious operation. Following this operation his health never came back as it had been, and he kept going down physically. Toward the end of August this past summer he became seriously ill. The help of doctors was sought, but all seemed to no avail. For more than a week he was hospitalized, and it appeared as though he was somewhat improved; but this improvement was only temporary.

Soon his condition became critical, so that he was confined to his bed for a number of days before his death summons came.

He suffered intensely during the last few days, until he was finally relieved, when on Thursday morning at about eleven o’clock in the morning, the angel of death came to summon him home.

He was fully prepared to go, and he was eager to be relieved of his earthly bonds of pain and suffering. Already in the hospital, and again at home he expressed several times his conviction that through faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ he was saved, and that he was ready to go and meet his Lord. Although he was of a quiet disposition and words failed him when in company of a group of folks, yet he would at times share his views when in the company of a close friend. It was to several such individuals that he expressed his readiness to go, yea his eagerness to go, to be with his Lord and Savior.

It was not his gift to sing, but he was a lover of music. Especially did he love to hear the old familiar hymns of the church, and even while he was writhing in pain the last days of his life, when some of these hymns were sung it seemed to ease his pain and help to quiet him.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, Mary (Ratzlaff) Klassen; two daughters: Martha, Mrs. C. K. Peters, and family of Inman, Kansas; Elizabeth, Mrs. Leonard Klein, and family, of Burrton; and Peter J. Klassen, and family, of near Kansas City. There are also twenty grandchildren, of whom one is married. He also leaves three brothers, John S. Klassen and family, of Spokane, Washington, Abe F. Klassen and family, of Fredonia Kans., and J. J. Klassen, and family, of Wichita; also three sisters, Sarah (Klassen) Unruh, and family, of New Mexico, Justina (Klassen) Regehr, and family, of Inman, and Lizzy (Klassen) Schmidt and family, of Greensburg, Kansas. Besides these there are two brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, and a large number of relatives and friends. — The Bereaved Family.