Claassen, Gertrude W. Wiebe (1892-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Jun 2 p. 5

Birth date: 1892

text of obituary:

. . .

• Relatives here received word of the death May 24 of Mrs. Aaron J. Claassen, 72, of Beatrice, Neb. She had been ill for some months. Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at the Beatrice Mennonite Church. Mrs. Claassen was long active in Mennonite conference work and was well known here. She was a sister-in-law of Mrs. J. E. Linscheid of North Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Sep 15 p. 8

text of obituary:

GERTRUDE W. CLAASSEN

Gertrude W. Claassen, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Herman Wiebe, was born at Samara, Russia, on March 10, 1892. She came to Beatrice, Neb. with her parents in 1896 and lived in this community all her life. After attending school in Beatrice she continued her education at Bethel College where she majored in home economics. She learned to carry responsibility early in life, for she was only 10 when her mother died, and upon the marriage of her oldest sister she undertook the care of the household while still in her early teens.

She received baptism from Rev. Gerhard Penner on May 15, 1910 upon her confession of faith in Jesus Christ. She was a charter member of Beatrice Mennonite Church and was active in it until her death, taking part in the Women's Mission Society, the Mennonite Hospital Auxiliary and other auxiliaries of the church.

On April 27, 1917 she was united in marriage with Aaron J. Claassen. They began their life together on a farm southwest of Beatrice, where they lived for 40 years before moving to Beatrice in 1957. Two children were adopted into their home.

In their retiring years the Claassens made several extensive trips. They were always interested in the welfare of their fellow man particularly the Mennonite refugees from behind the Iron Curtain who were being resettled in other lands.

Mrs. Claassen was pre-deceased by her son Daniel who died at the age of nine, one brother and two sisters. She departed this life to be with her Lord on May 24, 1966, after a protracted illness. She leaves to mourn her passing her husband Aaron J. Claassen, one daughter, Mrs. Ellen Niffen, three grandsons, two sisters, four brothers, many other relatives and a large circle of friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1966 Jun 14 p. 404