Klassen, Lena Florence Nikkel (1919-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Aug 2 p. 29

Birth date: 1919 Sep 25

text of obituary:

LENA FLORENCE KLASSEN

Lena Florence Klassen passed away May 19. She was born Sept. 25, 1919 to Abram and Katherine Nikkel in Samara, Russia. The family immigrated to Canada in 1924. After 4 years in Crowfoot, Alta., they moved to British Columbia. She attended school, church and Sunday school in Yarrow, B.C. She was baptized in 1934 and joined the MB church. Her mother had died on the train trip to B.C., and her father died in 1936. She moved to the "Girls' Home" in Vancouver and worked as a maid. In 1940 she married Jacob Klassen in Yarrow MB Church. They lived in Vancouver. In 1946 they moved to a small acreage in Greendale, B.C., where they joined Greendale MB Church. She was active in Sunday school and the ladies' group and helped organize a nursery class. Her garden of fruit trees and berries provided work for the children and income for the family. Later, she and Jake moved to the mountains near Ryder Lake, B.C., then to Sardis, B.C. They travelled, and she enjoyed helping her grandchildren. In 1994 she and Jake moved to Clearbrook, B.C. and joined Clearbrook MB Church. Her faith in Jesus held strong. Predeceased by Jake in 1996 and a grandson, she is mourned by son Andrew; daughters Ingrid, Irma, Marianne Hartman, Madelene, and Nancy Warkentin; and 4 grandchildren. The funeral was May 24 in Clearbrook MB Church, with William E. Thiessen ministering.