Klassen, Jacob J. (1884-1978)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1978 Aug 24 p. 11

Birth date: 1884 Sep 19

JACOB J. KLASSEN

Jacob J. Klassen was born to Peter and Maria (Friesen) Klassen on Sept. 19, 1884 in Harvey County, Kan. He died July 2, 1978 at the age of 93.

His early childhood and youth were spent in the Alta Mills community. It was there that he attended school and began to pursue his life's interests of music and carpentry. When his father die, the family moved to the Inman area where they could become more actively involved in the Zoar MB Church. He was elected choir director at the age of 19, and spent over 50 years serving his Lord in this way.

It was at Inman that he met Agatha Thiessen, and on May 20, 1906, they were married and established their first home on a farm west of Inman. His chief interest, though, was carpentry, and he enjoyed employing young men of the community and training them to be accomplished carpenters. During the years of 1932-42 they moved about frequently as he worked for the Equitable Life Assurance Society, rebuilding and repairing farm buildings. After that they moved to Wichita where he continued building until retirement in 1959. They moved back to the Inman area, and in 1963, after completing a new home in Buhler, they moved into their retirement home.

His spiritual pilgrimage began during his teen years. On Apr. 27, 1902, he came to the joyous assurance of sins forgiven, and was baptized three weeks later on May 19, 1902 by John Esau and affiliated with the Zoar church. Later, when they went to Wichita, he became a charter member of the First MB Church there and served on the steering committee for the purchase of the first building. He served on the church board and as a deacon for about eight years. He was tireless in his efforts to serve the church and gave bold witness of his faith in Jesus on every opportunity.

In the home he was a loving disciplinarian and continued to carry a deep, prayerful concern for all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their spiritual quests. Those who survive to mourn his passing are his widow, Agatha; to sons, Pete and wife Rose of Denver, Colo. and Elias and wife Mary of Inman; three daughters. Kathryn (Mrs. P. H.) Willems of McPherson, Mrs. Edna Ediger of Buhler and Lynda (Mrs. Dan) Goertzen of Hutchinson; a sister, Mrs. Lizzie Schmidt of Peabody; 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Buhler MB Church on July 6, 1978 with Nick Rempel and D. C. Pauls officiating. Interment was in the Zoar Cemetery.