Klassen, Jacob J. (1876-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Mar 25 p. 6

Birth date: 1876 Oct 26

text of obituary:

. . .

— J. J. Klassen, 77, died early Monday morning at the Bethesda hospital, Goessel, after suffering a stroke of paralysis on Sunday. He had been active and in fairly good health until then. He was a life resident of the Goessel community and lived on the same section of land until moving to Goessel in 1950. Funeral services were to be held Thursday afternoon at the Bergen funeral home and the Alexanderwohl church, Rev. P. A. Wedel in charge. Mr. Klassen's first wife, Anna Dick, died in 1939. On Oct. 1, 1950, he married Mrs. Peter Frey, who survives with two sons, Emil of the home farm and Adolf of Sacramento, Calif.; two daughters, Mrs. Victor Schroeder of Canton and Mrs. Albert Budde of Newton; three brothers, P. J. Klassen of Hilboro [sic Hillsboro], H. J. Klassen of Newton and B. J. Klassen of Goessel; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Apr 15 p. 9

JACOB J. KLASSEN

Jacob J. Klassen, son of Joahnn [sic Johann] and Sara (Unruh) Klassen, was born Oct. 26, 1876, in McPherson county, Kansas. He attended the Blumenfeld school and Balzers Bible school, and was baptized by Rev. Jac. uBller [sic Jacob Buller] in the Alexanderwohl church on May 24, 1896.

On March 22, 1900, he was united in marriage with Anna Dyck, who passed away April 22, 1939. To this union were born four children. On Oct. 1, 1950, he was married to Mrs. Agnes Frey of Goessel. He engaged in farming most of his life, living on the same section of land until moving to Goessel in 1950.

About a year ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis while attending services at the Alexanderwohl church, after which his health failed rapidly. Sunday, March 21, while visiting the Victor Schroeders and H. J. Reimers he became ill. They took him to his home, where he suffered another stroke and was admitted to the Bethesda hospital. He passed away the following morning, March 22, at 2:30 o’clock.

Mr. Klassen was a man of a happy disposition, kind and considerate to all of his children and grandchildren, and his many friends. His second marriage, although of short duration, was a most happy one. The children of both families enjoyed joyous fellowship in the home of their parents and will miss their father greatly. He was gifted in writing poetry which expresses his deep spiritual thinking and faith in the Lord.

One of his favorite pasages [sic] of Scripture was Phil. 3:20, 21: “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.”

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife; four children, Emil of Moundridge, Mrs. Victor (Elma) Schroeder of Canton, Adolf of Sacramento, Calif., and Mrs. Albert (Agnes) Budde of rural Newton; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Peter J. Klassen of Hillsboro, H. J. Klassen of Newton, and B. J. Klassen of Goessel.

His brother, D. J. Klassen, preceded him in death on Jan. 7 of this year. Also preceding him were his brother Abraham and sister Lena, Mrs. H. J. Voth; half-brothers and half-sisters, Sarah, Johann and Aaron, who died in Russia, and Maria, Gerhard, Katharin [sic Katharina], Frank, Anna and Aganetha, who died in Kansas.

Funeral services were held on March 25 in the Alexanderwohl church with Rev. P. A. Wedel, the pastor, in charge.

The Mennonite obituary: 1954 May 11 p. 304