Klassen, Abraham C. (1867-1936)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Nov 11 p. 2

Birth date: 1867 May 27

text of obituary:

Abraham C. Klassen

Abraham C. Klassen, son of Peter and Katharina Kornelson Klassen, was born on May 27, 1867, in Elizabethal, South Russia, and passed away on Monday noon, Oct. 26, 1936, thus reaching the age of 69 years, 4 months, and 29 days.

He came to America in the large immigration of Mennonites in 1874, when he was a boy of seven years. After his father died his mother united in marriage with Rev. Peter Lohrentz. The days of his youth were spent in the parental home three and one half miles south and three and one-half miles west of Moundridge, where he also attended the public school.

After he left the parental home he made his home with various close relatives. For about seven years he stayed with his sister, Mrs. John Wiebe. Later he lived with his half-brother John Klassen in Galveston, Texas. It so happened that he was sin Galveston when the great storm and flood struck that area, destroying a large part of the city. A number of Mennonites perished in the storm, but his life was almost miraculously saved in that the house was destroyed by the storm a few minutes after he and some friends had left it to seek shelter in another building nearby. During the last eleven years he made his home with his half-sister, Mrs. Jacob A. Regier, from which place he was called to his final reward.

The deceased lived a quiet and peaceful life, and was loved and respected by all those for whom he worked and with whom he made his home.

He leaves to mourn his departure one half-sister, Mrs. Jacob Regier of Moundridge, two aunts, Mrs. Jacob R. Regier of Moundridge, and Mrs. Grace Biers of Dodge City, six nephews, Peter Wiebe of Walton, Heinrich Weibe of Goessel, Peter Frank, and Jacob Klassen of Newton, and Abraham Klassen of Elbing, Kansas, two nieces, Mrs. Rheinhold Schroeder, Goessel, and Mrs. Henry Nusz of Newton, Kansas, and many other relatives and friends.

The immediate relative of the departed wish to thank all who have given so kindly of their help and sympathy in the time of their bereavement, and the singers for their comforting songs at the services.