Classen, Daniel J. (1922-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jun 22 p. 3

Birth date: 1922

text of obituary:

COLLISON ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY TAKES ONE LIFE

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Classen of Hillsboro received word last week of a tragic accident near Bakersfield, Calif. Which claimed the life of their son, Daniel, 27.

According to the report received here, he and his wife were en route from Dallas, Ore. To attend school at the University of Southern California when their car, pulling a trailer, was hit head-on by a truck. The accident occurred in the mountains, and Mr. Classen died a few hours later in the Bakersfield hospital.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jun 29 p. 6

text of obituary:

DANIEL J. CLASSEN

Daniel J. Classen, son of John L. and Mary (Reimer) Classen was born in Meade, Kans. Sept. 25, Kans. He died in the Kern county hospital at Bakersfield. Calif., a couple of hours after a run-away truck hit the car he was driving. The accident occurred about 33 miles south of Bakersfield on the way to Los Angeles. On August 20, 1948, he was married to Alice Leichty from Albany, Ore. who suffered injuries in the accident.

He is survived by his young wife, his father and mother, three brothers, Dave of Meade, Kans.; Andrew of Hillsboro, Kans.; Jonas, who is serving his second term as a relitf [sic] worker in France; two sisters, Nettie, Mrs. Clarence Hooley of North Lawrence, Ohio, and Selma of Hillsboro, Kans.; grandmothers, Mrs. J. M. Classen and Mrs. E. B. Reimer of Meade, Kans., and many other relatives and friends.

At the time of his death he was member of the Fairview Mennonite church near Albany, Ore. He accepted Christ as his Savior while attending Meade Bible school and was baptized in his youth at the Kleine Gemeinde Mennonite church at Meade, Kans.

He attended Meade Bible school, Tabor college, Goshen college, and graduated from Bethel college in 1949. While attending these various church schools he enjoyed the fellowship with the churches these communities, especially of the Gnadenau church at Hillsboro, Kans., and the Eighth Street Mennonite church at Goshen, Ind., both of which he was a member while there. He taught school classes and was always interested in being of service of the community as well as to the church.

Just before entering Civilian Public Service he experienced a very severe illness. Although his doctors did not expect his recovery, he miraculously regained his health. He has repeatedly praised God for granting him life and enabling him to continue to serve his Master. During the two and one-half years he was in CPS, he served at the Fort Collins base camp and at the mental hospital units at Macedonia, Ohio and Marlboro, New Jersey.

During this last winter he and his wife taught the Conner public school. He considered teaching children a challenging avenue of Christian service.

We feel our loss of husband and son very keenly but we find consolation in Phil. 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." — The Family.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jul 6 p.1

text of obituary:

FURTHER INFORMATION RECEIVED ABOUT FATAL ACCIDENT

Further details of the tragic highway accident near Bakersfield, Calif. which claimed the life of Daniel J. Classen, 29, have been received by friends here.

Mr. Classen and wife Alice were enroute with car and house trailer from Albany, Ore., where he had taught school, to the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, to nter [sic] summer school. While traveling up-grade on a mountain highway, a runaway truck and semi-trailer loaded with plate glass coming from the opposite direction careened into their ear.

Mr. Classen was taken to a Bakersfield hospital, but never ful¬ly regained consciousness and passed away the following morn¬ing. Mrs. Classen, who suffered a broken arm, is convalescing at the home of her parents at Albany, Ore.

The deceased attended Tabor and Goshen colleges and was a 1949 graduate of Bethel college.