Esau, Clara Catherine Claassen (1893-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Sep 9 p. 8

Birth date: 1893 Jun 29

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Clara Esau, 78, of rural Whitewater died Sept. 3 at Bethel Deaconess Hospital. The funeral was conducted Monday forenoon at the Emmaus Mennonite Church, with Rev. L. R. Amstutz in charge. Mrs. Esau, widow of Edward Esau, was a lifelong resident of the Emmaus community. Survivors include one daughter, Elma E. of Akron, Pa.; four sons, Harold J. of Enid, Okla., Victor J. of rural Whitewater, Elbert E. of rural Newton, and Paul G. of Jackson, Minn.; five sisters, Mrs. John Wiebe, Mrs. Esther Wiebe, Mrs. Henry Claassen, Mrs. John Entz and Mrs. Gus Regier, all of Whitewater; and seven brothers, Albert, Ernest, Walter, Carl and Paul Claassen, all of rural Whitewater, and Arnold C. and Herbert Claassen, both of rural Potwin.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 2 p. 14

text of obituary:

MRS. CLARA C. ESAU

Mrs. Clara Catherine Esau, daughter of John H. and Elizabeth (Thierstein) Claassen was born on June 29, 1893, in Plum Grove Township, Butler County, Kansas. She attended the Plum Grove School through the elementary grades and several high school courses.

Upon the confession of her faith in Christ she was baptized on May 16, 1910 by the Elder Gustav Harder and joined the Emmaus Mennonite Church at Whitewater. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8) was given to her as a motto for life. She continued as a member of the Emmaus Church until her death.

On March 25, 1915, she was married to Edward Esau at her parental home. They shared more than 51 years of married life on their farm near Whitewater. To this union four sons and two daughters were born. One daughter died in infancy. Mr. Esau passed away on July10, 1966. Two granddaughters also preceded her in death.

Among the special joys in our mother's life were her grandchildren, her flowers, and her reading. Every day closed with the reading of the Word of God. During the last several years her eyesight gradual,y failed. After fracturing her leg in May and her arm in August, her health declined rapidly. She passed away quietly on the afternoon of Sept. 3, 1971.

She leaves her children, Harold and wife Leona of Enid, Okla., Elma of Akron, Pa., Victor of Whitewater, Elbert and wife Zola of Newton, Paul and wife Elmira of Jackson, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and brothers and sisters, Albert, Walter Ernest, Carl, and Paul Claassen, all of Whitewater, Arnold and Herbert Claassen of Potwin, and Mrs. Martha Wiebe, Mrs. Esther Wiebe, Mrs. Elsie Claassen, Mrs. Hilda Entz and Mrs. Edna Regier all of Whitewater.

The Mennonite obituary: 1971 Oct 5 p. 590