Klassen, Abram (1922-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Mar 22 p. 24

Birth date: 1922 Jan 23

text of obituary:

ABRAM KLASSEN

Abram Klassen of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Feb. 5 of cancer. He was born Jan. 23, 1922 to Abram and Anna Klassen in Fuerstenwerder, Ukraine, the 2nd of 9 children. He grew up in a Mennonite village and a Christian home, but going to church was forbidden by the state. In 1942 he was drafted into the German army. In January 1945 he became engaged to Katie Thiessen, who had fled from Russia to Poland with her family. She and her family fled to Germany. In 1945 when the war ended, he became a POW of the American army in Austria . After his release, he worked for farmers in Austria . He came to Germany in 1946. He married Katie that August. He worked on a construction team in Germany. They attended revival meetings in Germany, accepted Christ and were baptized by H.H. Janzen of Canada. In 1952 they immigrated to B.C. They lived in Matsqui, B.C. and joined Matsqui MB Church. He worked in a sawmill at Mission, BC. His greatest pleasure was working with wood in his workshop, building chests of drawers, cradles, tables, benches,toys and desks for his family. One year, his woodcrafts raised $1700 at the MCC relief sale. In 1958 they moved to Clearbrook, B.C. He worked for B.C. Hydro 1958-84. Katie died of cancer in 1984. He married Betty Enns in 1985. They travelled to Hawaii, Lithuania on a mission trip, South America, and Germany to visit his siblings. Betty died in 1999. He married Susan Hoppe in June 2000. A favourite Psalm was Psalm 91. Predeceased by Katie and Betty, 3 brothers and an infant sister, he is mourned by Susan; children Helmut of Alberta and Margaret Frantz of Chicago; stepchildren Terry Enns of White Rock, B.C., Ruth Nickel of Abbotsford, Carolyn Falk of White Rock, Jane Epp of Kamloops, B.C. and Frank Hoppe of Abbotsford; grandchildren; and 4 sisters. The memorial service was Feb. 9 in Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, with Henry Thiessen and Mike Frantz ministering.