Claassen, Walter A. (1894-1975)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 May 1 p. 3

Birth date: 1894 Jul 19

text of obituary:

Aged Whitewater Farmer Killed in Fall from Truck

Whitewater, Kan. — An accident northwest of Potwin on Monday morning claimed the life of Walter A. Claassen, 80, a farmer and lifelong resident of this community.

Mr. Claassen was riding in the back of a pick-up truck when he fell to the road and was run over by a farm trailer attached to the truck. The trailer was loaded with about 6,500 pounds of irrigation pipe.

Mr. Claassen was a member of the Emmaus Mennonite Church, where the funeral will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Jun 5 p. 11

text of obituary:

WALTER A. CLAASSEN

Walter A. Claassen, son of John and Elizabeth Claassen, was born July 19, 1894, on a farm northeast of Whitewater, Kan. where he spent most of his life. He died on April 28, 1975, at the age of 80.

He received his elementary education at Plum Grove School in Butler County, and took a one-year agriculture course at Kansas State University, Manhattan.

He was baptized on May 26, 1912, in the Emmaus Mennonite Church by Rev. Gustav Harder and remained a faithful member there until his death. He served as trustee five years and as a church deacon 15 years. He was church chairman several years.

On Oct. 14, 1938, he was married to Jane E. Entz by Rev. John Entz. They were blessed with two children.

Walter was a considerate person, always willing to help others. After he retired, he was happiest helping his son on the farm. In later years his eyesight and hearing began to fail. Family devotions and church attendance were an important part of his life.

He served his country for two years in the U.S. Army Base Hospital at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Potwin State Bank, president of Butler County Drought Committee, president of Butler county Soil Conservation Assn. and president of Butler County Farm Bureau. He was selected as Kansas Premier Seed Grower in 1935.

In 1949 he was asked to go to South America to help refugees from Germany become resettled. He and his family spent two and one-half years helping them buy land and learn farming methods.

Awaiting our reunion are his wife, of the home, a son, Donovan and wife Velma of rural Whitewater; a daughter, Marla, and husband Bill Hoffman of Euless, Texas; three grandsons; five sisters, Mrs. Martha Wiebe, Mrs. Esther Wiebe, Mrs. Henry (Elsie) Claassen, Mrs. John (Hilda) Entz, and Mrs. Gus (Edna) Regier, all of Whitewater; and six brothers, Albert, Ernest, Carl and Paul of Whitewater, Arnold and Herbert of Potwin.