Klassen, J. J. (d. 1942)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Feb 19 p. 1

Birth date:

text of obituary:

Elder J. J. Klassen Of Canada Killed in Automobile Accident

WIDELY KNOWN MINISTER SUDDENLY TAKEN BY DEATH THURSDAY EVENING, JAN. 29

Sardis, B. C. — The community here was deeply shocked when the report was spread that Elder J. J. Klassen had been instantly killed in an automobile accident, Thursday evening, Jan. 29.

The great tragedy happened on the highway between Vancouver and Sardis, near the town of Langly Prairie. With Rev. Klassen in the car were Heinrich Schmidt, driver, and Mrs. Schmidt and Miss Betty Guenther, both of whom were in the back seat.

It being about 5:45 o'clock, Mr. Schmidt was driving along at about 35 miles per hour. He passed around a wagon with lumber; turned well over to his side of the road, when suddenly a car with lights, driving at great speed, appeared in front of him and a terriffic [sic] crash resulted.

Rev. Klassen, who had been in the front seat beside Mr. Schmidt, suffered a fractured skull and was killed instantly. Mr. Schmidt was thrown between the two machines and received serious bruises and internal injuries. Mr. Schmidt suffered minor wounds, while Miss Guenther escaped unharmed. She ran to a nearby home to telephone for help.

The other car was occupied by an elderly couple from Seattle. Both were painfully injured, although not seriously. Their car, too, was completely demolished.

Elder Klassen was widely known in Mennonite circles in Canada, as well as the United States, having held many important positions in church and conference. He will be especially missed by the congregation at Sardis, which he served as pastor at the time of his death.