Claassen, Olga Schultz (1918-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Aug 2 p. 11

Birth date: 1918 Jun 8

text of obituary:

Longtime India missionary dies at 92

By Mennonite Mission Network staff

BERNE, Ind. — Olga Claassen's life of service to god took her to India and Indiana, and a few other places besides.

Claassen, who died July 5 at the age of 92, offered a steady and inspiring influence on colleagues and those outside of church circles, according to Joseph and Mary Lou Duerksen, who served with Claassen and her husband, Curt, in India.

"She was dedicated, in the broadest sense of the word," Joseph Duerksen said. "She was dedicated to her family, she was dedicated to the church, she was dedicated to her calling [and] to the women and children with whom she worked."

For 28 years the Claassens were evangelists in India, teaching in the Janjgir Bible School, planting churches, encouraging isolated Christians in villages and mentoring Indian evangelists. Claassen also taught the Bible to women and children.

She was born June 8, 1918, to Henry H. and Mary (Fast) Schultz in Mountain Lake, Minn. The family moved to Lustre, Mont., when she was 8 and to Dallas, Ore., when she was 18.

In 1943 she graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. There she met Curt Claassen, whom she married on June 1, 1944, in Dallas.

From 1945 to 1973 they served in India under the General Conference Mennonite Church Commission on Overseas Mission.

On their first furlough to the United States, they served Beatrice (Neb.) Mennonite Church. In 1975 they moved to Berne to serve at First Mennonite Church, where for 20 years Curt was an assistant and visitation pastor. Olga often accompanied him in hospital and home visitation.

She is survived by her husband, Curt; four sons and daughters-in-law, Lloyd and Gail, Gordon and Jarna, Eldon and Jan and Loren and Patricia; and six grandchildren.

Services were held at First Mennonite Church. Burial was in the M.R.E. Cemetery.