Klassen, Henry H. (1883-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Oct 3 p. 8

Birth date: 1883 Jul 5

text of obituary:

REV. HENRY H. KLASSEN

“I, Henry H. Klassen, was born on July 5,1883, in South Russia in the village of Sagradauf, Alexanderfield. Here I spent my childhood days with the parents, Henry and Susannah Klassen.

“Here also I attended school and received my education, which included an hour of Christian training each morning. This made a deep impression upon my youthful heart. I also had believing parents and through the tender nurture of my loving mother, I learned to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and also to respect Him. When I reached the age of 11 years. I lost my precious mother. Her impressions have never left me. Nevertheless, after her death I became a backslider and lived in the world.

“At the age of 17, on Dec. 9, I found peace once again in the Lord Jesus Christ and Romans 5 became a reality in my life.

“In 1901, on April 5, I was baptized by Elder John Nikkel and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church. On May 5, 1905, the Lord gave me a devoted, kind and loving wife in the person of Katherine Fast. Our first years were spent in South Russia. Here I had the joy of sitting at the feet of many of our precious brethren. Among these were J. W. Reimer, Cor. Unruh, and Peter Unruh. Through the teaching of these brethren, the Bible became a treasure of precious truths to me. Soon I learned to study for myself and in the course of time it was my joy to possess a respectable library of Christian books.

“In 1909 there was a great migration to Siberia, and among this group of people we also moved to Siberia and settled on a farm. The land was fruitful and we were happy and ambitious as we went to work in this new found country.

“Before leaving South Russia, I had already felt the inward call to serve my Lord in the ministry of the Word.” (Up to this point written with his own hand).

It was in this same year that our father was elected by the church to serve as a lay minister. In 1911 he was ordained by Rev. Jacob Gerhardt Wiens, the grandfather of our present son-in-law, Frank Wiens. For many years father served as leader and pastor of the church. He also spent a number of years traveling as an evangelist and had the joy of seeing many souls come to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We suffered much through the great tribulation that came to Russia during the years of conflict. In 1929 we decided to cross the border to China and make our way to the U. S. A. We left our oldest daughter behind and by the hand of faithful guides, were able to make our way out of the land of bloodshed and reach China. After spending 11 months in China, we were privileged to come to Reedley, Calif. and establish our home. Father had never failed to be thankful to God for this marvelous deliverance and for the love that many showed to the poverty stricken immigrants who reached the U. S. with us.

Our marriage, which lasted 52 years, four months, and eight days, was blessed with 10 children, seven daughters and three sons. Two sons and one daughter preceded him in death.

One of the crowning joys of the last years of his life was to receive personal correspondence from our daughter in Russia. We had not heard from her for over 20 years.

During our stay in the Reedley community, father was privileged to help along in the church in various ways. He was a great encouragement to many Christians and found much joy in helping others.

During the last years of his life he was bothered with heart trouble. He often expressed a great desire to go Home and be with the Lord. The call for this important appointment came Friday evening, Sept.20, 1957, at about 6:45 p.m. He reached the age of 74 years, two months and 15 days. We mourn his departure for we shall greatly miss the love and affection that he always had for his family.

Those who remain to mourn at his departure are his wife, Katherine Fast Klassen, Reedley, Calif.; six daughters, Tina, Mrs. Epp of Siberia, Elizabeth, Mrs. Ruben [sic Reuben] Heinrichs of Reedley, Sarah Klassen of Bakersfield, Susie, Mrs. Ed Krause of Blaine, Wash., Marie, Mrs. Frank J. Wiens of Asuncion [sic Asunción], Paraguay, Helen, Mrs. Walter Krause of Fresno, Calif.; one son, Jacob of Upland, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The oldest grandchild as well as the great-grandchild are in Russia. Besides these there are five sons-in-law, two sisters in Russia, and two sisters in British Columbia. Three sisters and three brothers preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held in the Reedley M. B. Church on Sept. 24. — The Family.