Klassen, Agatha Dyck (1903-1972)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1972 Apr 21 p. 31

Birth date: 1903 Jun 23

text of obituary:

MRS. AGATHA KLASSEN

Agatha Klassen was born June 23, 1903 in Rosenthal, in the Altkolonie, in southern Russia, a daughter of Jacob and Maria Dyck. In 1908 the family moved to Nikopol where she spent a happy childhood and received her education. When the Revolution swept the country the Dyck family lost their home and all of their possessions. In 1921 her father passed away and her mother moved back to the Altkolonie, this time to Kronstal. Here Agatha took a position teaching kindergarten. She loved her work and also enjoyed teaching Sunday school.

She gave her heart to the Lord when she was still very young and at 13 was baptized by her father and accepted into the Mennonite Brethren church in Nikopol. On July 5, 1925 she entered into matrimony with Dietrich J. Klassen. Her cheerful nature was a constant source of joy and inspiration in their home. Their first child, Albert, died after only 20 days. In March, 1930 they emiqrated to Canada with their two small children. In August, 1951 a slight tremor became noticeable in her left hand, the beginning of Parkinson's Disease, which became progressively worse and for which she was eventually operated on. A second operation was followed by a stroke which totally incapacitated her. For many years the family lived in Virgil, Ontario. In July, 1966, she and her husband moved to Clearbrook, B.C., where she was admitted to the Menno Hospital. On January 10, 1972, after many years of illness, she passed into the presence of her Saviour at the Menno Hospital. She was in her 70th year.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Dietrich Klassen; six children, Mary (Mrs. Peter Derksen) of Japan, Walter, St. Catharines, Ont., Helmut, Oliver, B.C., Martha (Mrs. Ed Andres), Regina, Hilda, Ottawa, and Frieda (Mrs. Brian Mitchell), Kitchener; 18 grandchildren; her mother, Mrs. Maria Rempel, of Vineland; a sister, Mrs. Lydia Janzen, of Oshawa, and many friends and relatives.