Claassen, Albert Samuel (1892-1976)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 19 Aug 1976 p. 8

Birth date: 1892

text of obituary

• Funeral services for Albert S. Claassen, 83, retired farmer and stockman of rural Whitewater, were held Thursday morning, Aug. 12, at the Emmaus Mennonite Church, Rev. Lubin Jantzen, interim pastor, officiated. Mr. Claassen died Sunday afternoon, Aug. 8, at Bethel Deaconess Hospital where he had been admitted Sunday morning. He was a lifelong resident of the Whitewater community. Survivors include his widow, the former Florence Shumi; three sons, Louis of Rose Hill, John of Whitewater, and Virgil of Elkhart, Ind.; five daughters, Elizabeth Goering of Moundridge, Eva Unruh and Ruth Janzen, both of Newton, Mildred Voran of Pretty Prairie, and Dora Golden of Omaha, Neb.; five brothers, Ernest, Carl, Paul, Arnold and Herbert, all of Whitewater; five sisters, Martha Wiebe, Esther Wiebe, Elsie Classen, Hilda Entz and Edna Regier, all of Whitewater; and 27 grandchildren.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 9 Sep 1976 p. 11

Birth date: 1892 Aug 10

ALBERT S. CLAASSEN

Albert Samuel Claassen was born Aug. 10, 1892, on a farm north of Potwin, Kan. to John H. and Elizabeth (Thierstein) Claassen. He died of a heart attack at Bethel Hospital, Newton, Kan., on Aug- 8, 1976 two days before his 84th birthday.

He was baptized on May 10, 1910 and received into the church by Rev. Gustav Harder. His baptismal verse was Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” He remained a lifelong member of the Emmaus Mennonite congregation near Whitewater, Kan.

He was married to Florence Shumi on Dec. 6, 1919, by Rev. Harder with the words from John 6:68 as their marriage text. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1969. Father's death, after 56 years of marriage, was the first in his family of eight children, all married, and 27 grandchildren, six of whom are married.

He is survived by his wife: their children, Elizabeth and Victor Goering, Moundridge, Elva and Arthur Unruh, Newton, Louis and Dorothy Claassen, Rose Hill, Mildred and Myron Voran, Pretty Prairie, Dora and James Golden, Omaha, John and Miriam Claassen, Whitewater, Ruth and Herman Janzen, Newton, Virgil and Louise Claassen, Elkhart, Ind.; 27 grandchildren; five sisters, Mrs. Martha Wiebe, Mrs. Esther Wiebe, Mrs. Elsie Claassen, Mrs. Hilda Entz, and Mrs. Edna Regier, and five brothers, Ernest, Carl, Paul Arnold, and Herbert, all of the Whitewater area.

As a farmer he was interested in new and innovative farming practices and his mechanical ingenuity was a great asset in his work. He was active in community and church affairs and served in a variety of offices. He enjoyed reading and read widely for information as well as for pleasure. He upheld and supported the work of the church and the conference.